WWII event National Railroad Museum

Youth in Action!

Thank you to the the Domination All Star Cheerleading Tumble and Dance group from Two Rivers that helped distribute 500 Fire Prevention Door Hangers on Saturday, April 21st as part of the Manitowoc County United Way Day of Caring. 

Local Fire Department Invites Community Support for American Red Cross Disaster Relief

Partnership generates greater teamwork for local disaster responses

Once again this year, the Fond du Lac Fire Department will be taming the flames of the grill to help the American Red Cross. On April 27, 2012, the Fond du Lac Fire Department will host a brat fry from 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the Main Street Fire Station (815 S. Main St.) to support local Red Cross disaster relief as part of the annual Heroes for the American Red Cross campaign.

 At every disaster the Red Cross is there, providing basic needs including food, shelter, emotional support and comfort kits at no cost for victims. It is a lesser-known fact that Red Cross also supports emergency response workers by providing food and beverages at the scene of a disaster. Firefighters help the Red Cross in return through their fundraising efforts.

 “The Fond du LacFire Department is honored to be teaming up again this year with the Red Cross to serve-up burgers and brats to the community,” Fire Chief Peter O’Leary said. “The Red Cross provides vital resources to those in need. This is our way to say “thank you” to them for their continued partnership in our community.”

 Heroes for the American Red Cross is a grassroots campaign that invites local business people, school and church groups, civic clubs and individuals to reach for a $1,000 fundraising goal for their local Red Cross chapter.  Although each chapter sets a different fundraising goal, the need is unanimous: to support Red Cross disaster relief, assistance for fire victims, emergency military communications, local Veterans’ Affairs hospitals, life-saving blood collections and research, provide first aid and CPR training and disaster preparedness information.

The brat fry menu includes hamburgers and brats for $2.50 each. Delivery is available for orders over 20 items. To pre-order, call the Main Street Fire Station’s non-emergency number at 920-322-3800 by 9 a.m. on April 27. This year’s brat fry is proudly sponsored by the City of Fond du Lac Fire Department.

 About the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter:

The Northeast Wisconsin Chapter serves the Fond du Lac and surrounding counties with a goal to prevent, prepare for and response to emergencies. To learn more about local Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the Northeast Wisconsin Chapter at 920-231-3590 or visit NewRedCross.org. We can also be found on Facebook (American Red Cross – Northeast Wisconsin Region), Twitter (NEWRedCross) and our blog (newredcrossblog.org).

Congratulations!!!

Congratulations to Board Member, Chris Vanderheyden, Runner up, in the Schneider National, Inc. Volunteer Leadership Award at the Wisconsin Public Service Awards.

(l-r) Phil Danen, nominator, and Chris Vanderheyden, Board Member.

 

 

Jenks Heroes Campaign & Musicales a huge success!

Message from Steve Hansen, Chapter Executive, American Red Cross

Please join me in congratulating Vicki and John Jenks for surpassing their goal of raising $25,000 through this year’s Heroes Campaign & Musicales event! At the conclusion of Saturday’s festivities, Vicki and John announced that approximately $26,500 had been raised with some funds still expected to come in!  Serving as true ambassadors for the American Red Cross, we are so blessed to have these two wonderful people involved with our organization. 

Like so many of our volunteers, they are the lifeline of the American Red Cross and the link to our communities, building goodwill and support throughout Eastern Wisconsin. Vicki, John and the entire Heroes Campaign Team, we absolutely could not do it without you! Please take this opportunity to take a bow, you deserve it!

 Click HERE for a link to pictures from the Musicales posted to Facebook.

Have a great week everyone.

Steve

24th Annual Heroes Golf Event — Sold Out!

More than 140 golfers will hit the links May 21st, 2012, to support the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin. The prestigious Oneida Golf & Country Club will host the 24^th annual American Red Cross Heroes Golf Tournament. Through the support of the golfers and sponsors, the organization hopes to raise more than $35,000.

American Transmission Co. is the main sponsor of the golf outing. “Community interaction is a core value at American Transmission Co.,” explains David Hovde, local relations consultant. “We are honored to help support the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin through sponsorship of the Heroes Golf Tournament.”

Also sponsoring the event are Kewaunee Power Station and Schreiber Foods. Dorsch Ford, Lincoln, Kia is sponsoring a hole-in-one contest. It will provide golfers a chance to win a car if they score an ace on a designated hole.

The event will feature both a live and silent auction. Among the prizes people can bid on: 4 tickets to a Packers home game (includes tailgate party); 6 tickets to a Brewers home game (includes limo to/from game and dinner at Buck Bradley’s); dinner for 8 in your home prepared by Hinterland Brewing; dinner for 8 in your home prepared by Big Tomatoes.

Support for this event provides financial resources used to deliver services in the Northeast corner of the state of Wisconsin and reaching into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan

Those services include assistance to local families impacted by fire and other disasters, assistance to military personnel and families, health and safety education and blood products to local hospitals. Due to local need, we also run community-based programs: In Outagamie County, we run a Shopping & Errands program. In Winnebago County, we administer the Bridges program which provides short-term financial support for individuals and families facing temporary emergency situations. In Brown County, we provide a transportation program to seniors and individuals with disabilities.

Tornado Awareness Week! Are you Prepared?

Information courtesy Wisconsin Emergency Management:

Did you know Wisconsin averages 23 tornadoes each year.  Now is the time to be prepared for storm season.  Wisconsin’s Tornado & Severe Weather Awareness Week is April 16-20, 2012.

Once again, Wisconsin Emergency Management, ReadyWisconsin, and the National Weather Service have teamed up to help you and your family get ready for severe weather and to participate in the upcoming statewide tornado drill which is set for Thursday, April 19 with a Mock Tornado Watch issued at 1:00 p.m. and a Mock Tornado Warning issued at 1:45 p.m.

Check out these sites for additional tips and information to make sure you and your family are prepared!

• American Red Cross Preparedness Tips
• ReadyWisconsin
• National Weather Service

Picking Up Pieces after Midwest Tornado Outbreak

The American Red Cross continues to help people across the Midwest after the weekend’s devastating tornadoes.

In Oklahoma alone, the Red Cross estimates that more than 600 homes were affected by this weekend’s tornadoes, including 87 homes that were destroyed and 49 sustaining major damage. Another area hit hard is Thurman, Iowa, where FEMA reports 75 percent of the town sustained damage.

Red Cross disaster teams are operating shelters, providing meals and distributing relief supplies throughout the affected communities. The Red Cross is also moving additional relief supplies into the tornado-stricken areas, including comfort kits, tarps, coolers, rakes and other cleanup supplies.

VOLUNTEERS LEAD DISASTER RESPONSE

Many of the Red Cross responders are volunteers. It was a busy weekend in Iowa as they helped in communities hit by the tornadoes, and also responded to large fires and other severe weather. The weekend began with volunteers helping people affected by a large apartment building fire in Des Moines. Tornadoes slammed into the Thurman and Creston areas Saturday. By Sunday morning, volunteers were on the scene supporting firefighters responding to a multiple business fire in Titonka.

After the tornadoes struck in Thurman and Creston, volunteers opened two shelters, activated three mobile feeding trucks, and began damage assessment. Red Cross volunteers served more than 1,650 meals and snacks Sunday and provided emotional support for clients.

Red Cross volunteers also responded to severe weather damage in Sioux City, Des Moines, Knoxville, Council Bluffs and Keokuk County. Most of the cases reported were wind and tree damage to homes. In Titonka, volunteers served 250 meals to firefighters battling a multi-business fire. 

“There were a significant number of disaster-related incidents this weekend which affected many people’s lives here in Iowa,” said Leslie Schaffer, Red Cross spokesperson. “Our volunteers have really worked tirelessly to make sure people had a safe place to stay, food to eat and help getting their lives back on track. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the storms and fires this weekend, not only here but across the country.”

SAFETY STEPS

The Red Cross reminds people who live in the tornado-damaged areas that they should stay out of damaged buildings. Other safety steps include:

• Wear long pants, long-sleeved shirts and sturdy shoes when examining homes for damage.
• Watch out for fallen power lines or broken gas lines and report them to the utility company immediately.
• Use battery-­powered flashlights when examining buildings—do NOT use candles.
• If someone notices a gas smell or hears a hissing noise, they should open a window and get everyone out of the building quickly. They should also call the gas company or fire department.
• Keep animals under control.
• Clean up spilled medications, bleaches, gasoline or other flammable liquids that could become a fire hazard.

HOW TO HELP

People can help those affected by disasters like these tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Consider making a donation today by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to someone’s local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Contributions enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies more than 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

Red Cross Urges People to Volunteer

If you like helping people, the Red Cross is the place for you.

This National Volunteer Week, April 15-21, the American Red Cross of Northeast Wisconsin is celebrating its dedicated volunteers and partners. These volunteers power the American Red Cross, making it possible for the organization to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.

The Red Cross is also encouraging people who have been thinking about volunteering to take the plunge. People wanting to make a difference should contact your local American Red Cross to learn about getting involved.

Volunteers are central to the work of the Red Cross in the Northeast corner of the state of WI and reaching into the Upper Peninsula of Michigan and in communities across the country, on average, the Red Cross has 15 volunteers for every one employee. These volunteers are people in action—whether providing comfort to a family whose home has been washed away in a flood or getting an emergency message to a member of the military whose father is critically ill.

 American Red Cross volunteers…

• Respond to disasters and reconnect families separated by disasters or conflict.
• Support blood drives across the country.
• Help veterans, members of the military and their families in theU.S.and overseas.
• Teach first aid, CPR, swimming and other lifesaving skills.

And do so much more!

Red Cross volunteers are united by their service and the feeling that in changing others’ lives, their lives are also changed. To volunteer, contact Jody Weyers, Regional Director of Volunteers at 920-227-4287 or weyersj@arclakeland.org

Presidential Proclamation — National Volunteer Week, 2012

BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA

A PROCLAMATION

President Obama Signs Landmark National Service Legislation

Our Nation has been profoundly shaped by ordinary Americans who have volunteered their time and energy to overcome extraordinary challenges. From the American Revolution and the Seneca Falls Convention to the everyday acts of compassion and purpose that move millions to make change in their communities, our Nation has always been at its best when individuals have come together to realize a common vision. As we continue to pursue progress, service and social innovation will play an essential role in achieving our highest ambitions — from a world-class education for every child to an economy built to last. During National Volunteer Week, we pay tribute to all who give of themselves to keep America strong, and we renew the spirit of service that has enriched our country for generations.

That spirit lives on today in countless acts of service around our country. When one of the deadliest tornados in our Nation’s history touched down in Joplin, Missouri, in May 2011, thousands of volunteers stepped forward to serve their fellow citizens. They turned a university into a hospital. They repurposed doors for stretchers. They rushed food to those in need and filled trucks with donations. To date, they have committed more than half a million hours to bringing support and shelter to a community during a time of profound hardship and heartache. In Joplin and across America, we see the transformative power of service — to unite, to build, to heal.

My Administration remains steadfast in our commitment to empower more Americans with tools to shape their communities. During my first 100 days in office, I was proud to sign the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act, a landmark national service law that laid out a strategy to link service with innovation, established the groundbreaking Social Innovation Fund, and charted the expansion of AmeriCorps. Last month, we launched FEMA Corps, a new service corps that will enhance our national capacity for disaster response and prepare its members for careers in emergency management. Through United We Serve and national service days, we continue to connect individuals young and old to new opportunities to reinvent their world through service — from fighting hunger and expanding access to healthy, affordable food to mentoring young people and fostering literacy. In all of these efforts, we are reminded how volunteer work can expand opportunity not only for those in need, but also for those who give. Service can teach valuable skills that pave the way to long-term employment and stay with volunteers throughout their careers and lives.

Service is a lifelong pursuit that strengthens the civic and economic fabric of our Nation. With every hour and every act, our lives are made richer, our communities are drawn closer, and our country is forged stronger by the dedication and generous spirit of volunteers. I encourage every American to stand up and play their part — to put their shoulder up against the wheel and help change history’s course. To get started on a project near you, visit www.Serve.gov.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, BARACK OBAMA, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and the laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim April 15 through April 21, 2012, as National Volunteer Week. I call upon all Americans to observe this week by volunteering in service projects across our country and pledging to make service a part of their daily lives.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this ninth day of April, in the year of our Lord two thousand twelve, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-sixth.

BARACK OBAMA