Organizations unite with Red Cross in Goldsboro to help community

The American Red Cross is working around the clock to provide relief to thousands of people affected by Hurricane Florence’s strong winds and catastrophic flooding. This major relief effort is made possible through the development of local partnerships formed years ago.   During Hurricane Matthew in October 2016, the city of Goldsboro’s Parks and Recreation department graciously allowed the Red Cross

It takes a team to feed people during a disaster

The Red Cross has served over 1.5 million meals and snacks since the Hurricane Florence disaster began. That’s a lot of food! How does the Red Cross manage to produce that many breakfasts, lunches and dinners? Southern Baptist Disaster Relief does the procurement and preparation of the meals, and Red Cross distributes them. Southern Baptist Disaster Relief owns many large mobile commercial

Support After a Disaster Includes Mental Health

When a disaster strikes, there are obvious needs that people see like shelter, food, and clothing – but there are other needs that are very important as well, like addressing mental health.   Disaster Mental Health volunteer Trina Shepherd is in Fayetteville, North Carolina. She is part of a team that is checking in on the mental health of those who

Red Cross Disaster Assessment team reads the signs for hurricane damage

In North Carolina, Red Cross Disaster Assessment (DA) teams survey urban and rural areas daily, house by house, to assess the damage to residences resulting from Hurricane Florence.   On Oct. 1, 2018, DA volunteers Elizabeth Boria and Jim Bray drove the streets of Calabash and Shallotte, where they were able to observe the damage to the residences caused by the

Administering to the Whole Child

Teachers and staff of Chinquapin Elementary School hadn’t seen their students since Sept. 11 and they were concerned. Florence made landfall. This they knew. Families lives are forever changed. This, too, they knew. They could drive the streets and see the personal belongings of families lining the streets. These things were known. How their students and families fared was not

Feeding the Community at New Hope Methodist

New Hope Methodist Church in Rowland, North Carolina, was buzzing with activity when I arrived to chat with Reverend Shawn Mitchell about the help his church is getting from American Red Cross.   Members of the congregation were busy putting together meals for people in the community. The food has been provided through the Red Cross, but the congregation has a

Red Cross volunteers welcome First Daughter at Lumberton mobile kitchen

A special guest paid a visit to the hard-working volunteers of the American Red Cross and North Carolina Baptist Men in Lumberton, N.C. on Wednesday. First Daughter Ivanka Trump greeted volunteers, thanking them for their service in helping those impacted by Hurricane Florence.  Ivanka quickly put herself to work, delivering meals and water to hurricane-impacted families during the dinner hour.

Hope in the face of Hurricane Florence

In the aftermath of Hurricane Florence, American Red Cross disaster assessment teams are vising communities across the Carolinas to see the degree of impact. Some areas escaped unscathed, others lost branches and entire trees, and still others are waiting to find out if their homes can be salvaged. The impact is immense, and the recovery process will be long. But

Quick thinking by Red Cross nurse saves life

Mid-morning on Sept. 28 Israel Pedroza Valle started to feel an incessant itch on his legs. A North Carolina resident staying at the American Red Cross shelter in Smith Recreation Center in Fayetteville, he made his way over to the shelter’s 24-hour nurse’s station to seek some relief.    Connie Garrison, a volunteer nurse with Red Cross Disaster Health Services took

First-time volunteer finds her place with the Red Cross at Fayetteville headquarters

Things clicked when Kara Zatezalo saw the position description: “Greet volunteers and guests arriving to the American Red Cross Headquarters. Welcome guest with a smile, warm greeting and instruct on proper sign-in procedures.”  After seeing the Red Cross in action for Hurricane Matthew, which destroyed a home she owned, the gregarious pre-kindergarten teacher knew she wanted to volunteer for Hurricane