California Wildfires: How Can You Help?
Local Red Cross Urges Area Residents to Give Blood, Become Prepared, Volunteer

(Summit, N.J.), Friday, October 27, 2007 - With reports of over a half million residents displaced and hundreds of thousands of acres burned across Southern California, residents of our area may wonder how they can help with disaster relief efforts taking place on the other side of the country. Needs are changing by the hour, but the local American Red Cross Colonial Crossroads Chapter provides a simple and meaningful avenue for contributing to the disaster relief effort.

"When residents of our area see pictures or read accounts of the devastating wildfires in Southern California, their first reaction may be 'What can I do? I'm in New Jersey, miles and miles away.'" said American Red Cross Colonial Crossroads Chapter Executive Director Christy Hodde.

"Everyone here in our area should know that contributing and becoming part of the relief effort is easy. It can be accomplished locally and involves more than opening your wallet. Specifically, we ask all area residents to use this terrible disaster as a catalyst for giving blood, becoming prepared, volunteering, or making a donation."

GIVE BLOOD - The American Red Cross has responded during this crisis by sending in more than 1,800 blood products from across the country. The wildfires have forced the cancellation of all blood drives in the San Diego area over the past four days, resulting in the loss of over 300 blood donations or 900 blood products to date. Three blood drives are scheduled in our area during the upcoming month. Individuals do not need to know their blood type to donate and walk-ins are welcome. November area blood drives will take place on:

Saturday, Nov. 17
10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Millburn Public Library (200 Glen Avenue, 2nd Floor, Millburn);

Tuesday, Nov. 20
1 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Colonial Crossroads Chapter Madison Office (1 Madison Avenue, Madison);

Friday, Nov. 23
10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Boy Scouts of America Florham Park Office in partnership with the Venture Crew
(222 Columbia Turnpike, Florham Park).

VOLUNTEER - Thirteen (13) Red Cross volunteers from New Jersey have been deployed to assist with relief efforts in Southern California. Dozens more are expected to travel to the affected areas in the upcoming weeks. Volunteers are the heart of the Red Cross. Everyday, in every town, the Red Cross needs individuals with a variety of skills. No matter your specialty or interest, from professional healthcare workers to accountants, IT specialists to teachers and translators. Everyone can help. Volunteers can work locally, or train to be part of the action when emergencies happen. If you would like to volunteer or discuss ways to become involved, please contact the Madison office at (973) 377-0455 or the Summit office at (908) 273-2076 or visit www.ccnjredcross.org

BECOME PREPARED - Disasters such as the Southern California Wildfires reinforce the importance of preparing for the unexpected, especially in highly-populated metropolitan areas like Southern California or the New York/New Jersey area. The Red Cross advises everyone to "Be Red Cross Ready" by 1) Get or re-supply a disaster preparedness kit; 2) Make a communications plan with your family and friends; and 3) Stay informed by listening to local authorities and contacting the local Red Cross Colonial Crossroads Chapter during a disaster event. For complete information on how to prepare for a disaster, including a list of items to include in a disaster supplies kit, please visit www.ccnjredcross.org or www.redcross.org.

MAKE A DONATION - 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.

The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster or to the local Colonial Crossroads Chapter, please do so at the time of donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the American Red Cross Colonial Crossroads Chapter, 695 Springfield Ave., Summit, N.J. 07901. Or, to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.ccnjredcross.org or www.redcross.org.