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January 19, 2009
American Red Cross and Hope Worldwide Honor Martin Luther King Day With A Fire Safety Project
(Baltimore)-- The American Red Cross of Central Maryland and HOPE worldwide are working together to ensure that the Baltimore neighborhoods most vulnerable to home fires become safer. To honor Martin Luther King, Junior’s birthday the two organizations will distribute 4,000 “door hangers” containing important fire safety education and begin a preparedness dialogue with citizens in fire-prone Baltimore City communities on January 19.
The information will provide local families with important fire safety education and raise awareness of the tragic toll of home fires. Local fire companies and other organizations, such as churches and school groups, are also involved in this outreach to communities. The project will specifically target the zip codes: 21217, South of Druid Hill Park, 21224, North of Patterson Park, and 21218.
“We feel this would not only be an excellent service opportunity to honor the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, but also a way to raise awareness regarding home fires in Baltimore City, fire safety habits, and the importance of maintaining smoke detectors,” said Adam Zurgable, who along with Chelsea Anderson is coordinating the Red Cross efforts as AmeriCorps members. “Raising awareness in these neighborhoods is the most effective route of preventing home fires and the devastation that accompanies them,” he added.
During the coming year the Red Cross will continue this dialogue by presenting emergency preparedness information to local schools and community groups. The Red Cross responds to an average of three fires a day in Central Maryland. For more Red Cross fire safety and preparedness information visit www.redcross.org/homefires.
All American Red Cross assistance is free, provided as a gift from the American people. If you would like to help the victims of this and other disasters, you can make an online contribution to by visiting redcross-cmd.org or by calling 410/624-2000.
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December 31, 2008
RED CROSS ASSISTING EVACUEES OF ELKRIDGE CARBON MONOXIDE LEAK
Elkridge, MD - American Red Cross staffers responded immediately to the scene of the Elkridge senior housing complex this morning where a fire and subsequent carbon monoxide release forced the residents to take shelter in the nearby library.
Initial Red Cross volunteers provided breakfast and other immediate needs. The Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle was later deployed with a shelter management kit and shelter equipment, including cots and blankets, water, etc., if needed for any of the residents later today.
Lunch was to be provided by Howard County Department of Corrections.
The Red Cross will continue to provide support as needed.
December 28, 2008
FIVE FIRES ON CHRISTMAS DAY LEAVE FAMILIES HOMELESS,
15 Local Families Suffer Home Fires During the Holiday Weekend
Central Maryland - Between December 24th and 28th, 15 families were
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| Photo courtesy of Michael Schwartzberg, Pikesville Volunteer Fire Company |
devastated by fires that left them homeless during the holiday weekend. Families from Glen Burnie to Parksley, Baltimore City to Columbia and Perry Hall were forced into the cold night with only the clothes on their backs.
Red Cross volunteers responded to each disaster to provide immediate shelter, armed with warm blankets, hot food and vouchers for lodging and clothing as needed. Every family will have a caseworker to monitor their needs following the disaster and makes sure they have the basics necessary to get back on their feet.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to Red Cross of Central Maryland, P.O. Box 64096, Baltimore, MD, 21264-4096. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting redcross-cmd.org.
December 20, 2008
FIFTH YEAR RECIPIENT of PRESTIGIOUS STANDARDS OF EXCELLENCE FROM MARYLAND ASSOC. of NONPROFITS
The Central MD Chapter has earned the Seal of Excellence by the MD Association of Nonprofits Standards for Excellence Institute, a national initiative that promotes the highest standards of ethics and accountability in nonprofit governance, management, and operations, and facilitates adherence to those standards by all nonprofits.
L to R Suzanne Brace, Chair, Ethics Standards Committee; Frank Miller, Executive Director, Central MD Red Cross; and Darryl A. Jones, Sr, CEO, Standards for Excellence Institute.
December 13, 2008
A DAY OF GIVING - DECEMBER 13, 2008
Red Cross staff and volunteers flooded the Baltimore harbor Saturday in an effort to raise awareness of and donations for the disaster relief fund which was rendered empty following an extraordinary number of massive-scale disasters during 2008.
Disaster Relief Fund dollars are vital to allow the Red Cross to mobilize the moment we are needed and provide vital relief to those who need it as soon as disaster strikes. We need your help. Please consider a small donation.
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