Red Crosser reflects on ultimate sacrifice

Jeannette Salcedo was only 10 years old when the chaplain showed up at her home to bring her family life-changing news — her father would not be coming home from Vietnam.

“I can still see my mother throwing herself against the wall and the children crying in the background,” said Jeannette, Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces manager at Fort Bragg.

She said she realizes the sacrifice her father made for her country, but she also notes the resiliency of her family during his service. “It’s hard growing up in a military family. You’ll never truly understand what it’s like until you are in this situation,” Jeannette said. “It’s hard when a parent dies. It’s just significantly different when they were serving your country.”

This Memorial Day, Jeanette encourages others to reflect on the continual sacrifices military members and their families make.

She encourages those who know an active service member, veteran or military family to simply acknowledge their service. “Sometimes just saying ‘thank you’ goes a long way.”

Jeannette continues to show her appreciation to service members and their families through her work with the Red Cross. Daily, the Red Cross works one-on-one with military members, veterans and their families to provide support in times of need.

For more information how the Red Cross serves the military community, visit redcross.org/military.

PHOTOS: Above – Jeannette Salcedo (back row, third from left) with her siblings and mother after a memorial service for her father. Bottom – Jeannette Salcedo’s father, Sgt. Glenn Nicholson.

Story by: Andrea Gulley/American Red Cross

 

 

Wilmington residents convene at Cape Fear Preparedness and Safety Expo

From virtual reality experiences to tornado simulations and rescue gear displays, residents of Wilmington received tips on disaster preparedness at the Cape Fear Preparedness & Safety Expo on May 11.

The event, hosted by the American Red Cross, featured local vendors that were passionate about community safety. Vendors focused on disaster preparedness tips regarding hurricanes, flooding, and home fires, which are all common disasters along the coast.

Guests also had an opportunity to experience what it’s like to be a Red Cross volunteer assisting the community during a disaster at the Red Cross Virtual Reality booth, created by OnecallVR. 

The video, filmed after Hurricane Matthew, virtually placed viewers in flooded roads and intersections,  alongside volunteers distributing food and water, cleaning up the remains of houses, stocking emergency response vehicles, and  taking care of residents in emergency shelters.

In a booth nearby, Red Cross volunteers  Anna Crutchfield and Leween McIntosh ran a fire safety and prevention table.

Crutchfield, a single mom working full-time, wanted to get involved and volunteer. She had a very limited schedule, but said Red Cross made volunteering flexible for her. She now helps the Red Cross promote home fire safety by installing free smoke alarms in area homes.

Leween McIntosh and her husband have been volunteering for the Red Cross for more than three years and say home fire preparedness is their passion. The pair spend their weekends educating people on how to prevent home fires and how to create home fire evacuation plans.

For more information on how to keep your family safe, visit www.redcross.org/disaster.

A special thank you to local sponsors, Live Oak Bank, New Hanover Regional Medical Center and WWAY for making the event possible. 

Story by: Haley Franks/American Red Cross

 

Red Cross participates in Circle K golf tournament at Pinehurst

Dozens of golfers gathered last Wednesday under the ancient pines of course No. 5 at Pinehurst Resort for Circle K’s first annual Eastern North Carolina golf tournament.

Circle K, an international chain of convenience stores, hosted the tournament to unite their area vendors and to introduce their charity partner of choice, the American Red Cross. Vendor participants at the tournament included Pepsi-Co, Coca-Cola, and Snyder’s-Lance, among others.

Ted Creed, from Circle K, said “I’ve been with Circle K for six years now and I really believe this [partnership with Red Cross] will be good for everyone involved. I think this sponsorship will have a major impact on the coasts of Carolina, an area that has needed help for a while.”

At the tournament, Creed teamed up to play with Ronnie Jones, from Snyder’s-Lance. Jones was excited to be a part of such a good collaboration and see the overwhelming amount of participation from vendors, such as Snyder’s-Lance.

What were we doing in April?

We were busy in April! Here’s a look at what your Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina was up to last month:

Hurricane Matthew six-month update

Last fall, Hurricane Matthew’s high winds and torrential rains battered the U.S. from Florida to Virginia. After the hurricane passed, swollen rivers across the Carolinas caused devastating flooding that inundated homes and communities for over a week.

The slow-moving storm caused widespread damage to property and infrastructure, while flooding displaced thousands of people from their homes. Many affected families had no place to go, or had fled homes with little more than the clothes on their backs.

In response, thousands of American Red Cross disaster workers from across the country mobilized alongside local volunteers and employees—many of whom were also affected by the massive hurricane—to bring swift relief.

Here’s where we are in recovery, six months later: hurricane-matthew-us-and-caribbean-six-month-update

Get Cape Fear Ready at our upcoming Preparedness & Safety Expo

The American Red Cross is proud to host the Cape Fear Preparedness & Safety Expo presented by Live Oak Bank and WWAY on Thursday, May 11, 2017, from 4 – 8 p.m. at the Coastline Convention Center.

This family friendly event features live and interactive demonstrations, kids activities, and multiple vendors offering critical and timely information about area disaster vulnerabilities, along with resources and tools to help residents prevent, prepare for, respond to, and recover from all types of emergencies.

Thanks to the generosity of corporate donors, there is no admission fee. Join us and be #CapeFearReady!

Thursday, May 11, 2017
4 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Coastline Convention Center
501 Nutt Street
Wilmington, NC 28401

For additional information or questions, please contact Eleanor Snell at (919) 368-0120 or by email to eleanor.snell@redcross.org

Red Cross delivers time, services to community in February

What was the Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina doing in February? Take a look at how we helped our neighbors in need last month: