essential2Life 5K Held April 27 at Liberty State Park

A beautiful day for a great event!

The 7th annual essential₂Life race was a benefit event co-sponsored and organized by more than a dozen New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania member companies of the American Chemistry Council (ACC) and the Chemistry Council of New Jersey (CCNJ).

Proceeds from the race benefit local chapters of the American Red Cross. To date, the race has raised more than $150,000 for the Red Cross.

Photos available at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/87969009@N04/sets/72157633424829312/

The Jersey Journal was there too and has photos as well…Thanks JJ!  Check out their Gallery Part 1 and Part 2: http://photos.nj.com/4505/gallery/essential2life_5k_to_benefit_american_red_cross_part_1/index.html  http://photos.nj.com/4505/gallery/essential2life_5k_to_benefit_american_red_cross_part_2/index.html

The race was sponsored by tri-state members of the ACC as part of its essential₂ campaign. The purpose of the campaign is to raise awareness about the chemical industry and its impact on day-to-day life.

The Red Cross would like to thank

the American Chemistry Council, the Chemistry Council of New Jersey

and the member companies who generously sponsored this event:

 Solvay, Croda, Brenntag, Chemtura, Roche, O’Brien & Gere and IFF

Chemistry industry companies in NY, NJ, PA and DE are proud of chemistry’s contributions to modern life, from innovations in products used everyday to the economic impact in the U.S. and abroad. Chemistry is essential to safety, health, innovation, the environment, the economy…essential2 our lives.

Food Drive for Red Cross Pantry in Nutley Breaks a Record

Above: Maxwell Meglio, 12, of Boy Scout Troop 142, and Madeehah Aslam, 22, a Red Cross volunteer, check expiration dates and sort food at the Red Cross Food Pantry in Nutley on March 23, 2013.

With the help of Nutley’s Boy Scout Troop 142 and Cub Scout Packs 141 and 142, the Red Cross food pantry in Nutley collected nearly 11,000 food items last month that will be donated to those in need.

Lisa Zitola-McGuire, community service manager for the Red Cross, said that they have been increasing their numbers during the annual food drive in recent years, however this year’s number was “record breaking.”

“The food pantry here in Nutley assists more than 130 families per month and we’ve been able to do that through community food drives and grants,” she said. “We are grateful to the community for their support.”

Volunteers for the Red Cross and two Boy Scout troops in Nutley could be seen working feverishly in the basement of the Red Cross site to sort the food.

Walt Smith, coordinator of project and chairman for Cub Scout Pack 141, said as scouts slid the foodstuffs across the tables that it is part of a national effort on behalf of the scouts that has grown tremendously in recent years.

In Nutley, the scouts pinned shopping bags to doors of homes and asked that people fill the bags with food, he said. In some neighborhoods 60 percent of residents donate, Smith said. And the food drive provides an important service in his view.

“Even though Nutley is a solid town, with the unemployment rate being what it’s been for the last few years, you get some people falling in between the cracks,” Smith said, adding that the food drive also teaches the scouts about the need to help others.

He marveled at the amount of food the scouts brought in, which could be seen piled in dozens of brown bags. “It’s an amazing site. It just keeps coming in,” he said.

Zitola-McGuire said that 60 percent of the pantry’s food is donated by Nutley residents and that 40 percent comes from the Hillside Community Food Bank.

“We count on the donations,” Zitola-McGuire said as she placed food on pantry shelves. The food drive that they do in the spring holds the pantry over through the summer – during which time donations are low.

She also said that the pantry has seen a greater demand for their services since the beginning of the year. In addition, Zitola-McGuire said the drive helps them increase the number of food items they can report in to the Feinstein Foundation, as part of their participation in the Feinstein Food Challenge.

The foundation provides a $1 million grant that is distributed to food pantries  nationwide each year. The grant is distributed based on the number of food items each pantry has collected during the months of March and April.

Boy Scout Rudolph Meglio, 14, was among the scouts there that day that checked expiration dates on the products and sorted food.

“We’ve had a lot of participants and a lot of generous people willing to donate,” he said, adding: “It makes me feel good.”

March is Red Cross Month Recap

During Red Cross Month, the Red Cross recognizes the nation’s Every Day Heroes who give of themselves and in some way help their community.

The North Jersey Region thanks our heroes – our volunteers, blood donors, class takers and financial supporters who help us assist those in need. This includes the thousands of volunteers and supporters from across the country and around the world who helped the people of New Jersey in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy and who continue to assist with recovery efforts.

Following are some of the activities held during March is Red Cross Month:

March 1

On the morning of March 1st, Red Cross volunteers and staff from both the North Jersey and South Jersey regions kicked off Red Cross Month together in Bay Head, NJ. All were present to thank Toyota for the generous donation of 19 vehicles to support Red Cross disaster relief and recovery efforts for Superstorm Sandy.

Within days after Sandy devastated New Jersey last October, Steve Haag, Assistant General Manager of Toyota’s NY regional headquarters in West Caldwell, walked into the American Red Cross chapter in Fairfield and asked what Toyota could do to help. The use of several vehicles was donated immediately to help support the massive relief operation underway.

Recognizing the strong need for vehicle support to move Red Cross manpower and resources throughout affected regions, Toyota arranged the donation of 19 Toyota vehicles for the Red Cross to use for a full year. The additional vehicles will be a tremendous asset to work being done throughout the regions.

The vehicles were presented to the Red Cross at Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church in Bay Head. Toyota had also presented a donation to Pastor Scott Bostwick to help the church with the work they’ve been doing within the Bay Head community since the storm hit.

The donation was graciously accepted by Dr. Steven Crawford, Chairman of the Board with the American Red Cross Jersey Coast Chapter on behalf of the organization.  View Story and Photos

Thank you Toyota! 

Later that day, both FEMA and state employees at the Joint Field Office in Monmouth County warmly welcomed March as Red Cross Month during a visit by American Red Cross President of Humanitarian Services Gerry DeFrancisco and Northeast Division Vice President Gail DeNicola.

Gerry and Gail had attended a meeting with Assemblywoman Annette Quijano at her district office in Elizabeth earlier in the day and came to the JFO to meet with FEMA leadership. While there, they attended a meeting with Senator Jennifer Beck, Assemblywoman Mary Pat Angelini and staff members from some of the legislative districts in Monmouth County affected by Superstorm Sandy. Discussions were focused on Red Cross Superstorm Sandy recovery efforts in the respective counties. The team then moved on to Union Beach where they met with Senator Joseph Kyrillos and Union Beach Business Administrator Jennifer Maier which was followed by a tour of areas hit hard by the storm.  View Photos

3/2      Service to the Armed Forces volunteers held a social event at the Menlo Park Memorial Veterans Home

3/3      Summit Youth Club held a blood drive

3/9      Red Cross volunteers marched in the Morristown Parade

March 9

The American Red Cross of Northern New Jersey Board of Directors Adopted A Unit and collected items for comforts of home packages for soldiers serving overseas. Several Board members invited their fellow employees to participate. On March 9th, Board members, their families and participating employees gathered at Verizon’s offices in Livingston to sort, package and write letters of encouragement to the troops. 

3/10    Service to Armed Forces volunteers held a Sunday Social at the Lyons Veterans Hospital

3/12    Washington Elementary School students learned Hands-only CPR in Summit

March 14

During Red Cross Day at the State House, Red Cross leadership and volunteers highlight the work of the organization and offer preparedness and safety information in Trenton. 

March 16

The Red Cross Somerset Youth Council and Microsoft teamed up to hold a preparedness Scavenger Hunt at the Microsoft Store in the Bridgewater Commons Mall. Elementary and Middle School students were paired with a Red Cross Youth Council member to participate in the hunt. Clues were hidden within the Microsoft devices and students explored the new technology to gather their preparedness facts. 

March 18

Christy Hodde, community chapter executive, American Red Cross New Jersey Crossroads, received the Woman of the Year Award from the Summit Business and Professional Women during a ceremony at the Summit Grand Hotel. View the news segment from HomeTowne TV News. Congratulations Christy!

March 20

As a show of support for community seniors, area mayors joined volunteers to deliver meals to Red Cross Home Delivered Meals clients on Wednesday, March 20th, participating during Mayors for Meals Day.

Mayors for Meals Day is a component of March for Meals, a national campaign by the Meals on Wheels Association of America. The American Red Cross is a participant in this national campaign, which aims to raise awareness of senior hunger and to encourage action on the part of the local community. Mayors and other local officials deliver meals on one day in March to show their support of their local senior nutrition program. 

3/21    Red Cross held an Open House in Somerville and offered a Be Red Cross Ready presentation to visitors.

3/21    The Suburban Chamber of Commerce honored American Red Cross New Jersey Crossroads as  2013 Public Service Organization during their Annual Service Awards Dinner in Summit.

3/23   Nutley Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts held a food drive to benefit the Red Cross Food Pantry in Nutley.

3/29   FEMA held a Red Cross blood drive at the Joint Field Office. View

Proclamations were presented to the Red Cross throughout the North Jersey Region.

We hope you enjoyed celebrating Red Cross Month with us!

March was first proclaimed as Red Cross Month 70 years ago by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since 1943, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

100 Days After Sandy – New Jersey

It’s the Season of Sneezin

Widespread influenza activity is being reported throughout the country – including New Jersey. Here are a few ways to help keep this lovely lady away…

AVOID THE FLU:

• Wash your hands (thoroughly) with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds, covering the entire hand (including fingernails and under jewelry). Use a disposable towel to dry and use that towel to turn off the faucet.
• Keep your hands away from your eyes, nose and mouth as much as possible. These are favorite spots for flu germs to enter your body.
• Avoid close contact with people who are sick. The flu virus is spread by respiratory droplets passed from one person to another. These droplets can pass among people in close contact.

  AVOID SPREADING THE FLU:

• If you are sick, stay home! Get plenty of rest and drink lots of fluids.
• Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue or sleeve when coughing or sneezing, and throw the tissue away after use. If you don’t have a tissue, cough or sneeze into your elbow or upper arm, not your hands.

For more tips and info, including signs and when to contact your doctor, go to:  http://www.redcross.org/news/article/Flu-Cases-Widespread-in-41-States

Jersey’s Own Julie Daigle

If disaster struck in your own back yard, you could be excused for wanting to hunker down, stay put, and put the scattered pieces of your life back together. Sorting her own life out was the last thing on Julie Daigle’s mind after Sandy hit. A Red Cross volunteer Disaster Assistance Team leader and IT project manager for IBM, Julie jumped in to volunteer her time and expertise to help her neighbors, even though she herself had property damage and was living without electricity.

Before Sandy even made landfall, Julie worked at a frenetic pace for two days to help set up the Red Cross disaster response headquarters in North Brunswick, NJ. As if that wasn’t enough, she then managed a shelter for families who evacuated in anticipation of the storm. Stuck there when Sandy hit, she rode out the storm in the shelter she was running, and stayed for two days. Finally, she made herself invaluable to the public affairs team, using her photography skills to tell stories about Sandy-affected families and communities, helping the Red Cross to advocate for them.

Julie continues her work helping others as she has with the Red Cross for more than 14 years. This past weekend, Julie rushed out to Perth Amboy to comfort and assist  families whose homes and belongings were destroyed by fire.

For all her hard work, Julie has only one piece of advice. “Volunteer now and do something for your neighbors. Help is always needed,” she said.

.

Red Cross Will Be Opening Service Delivery Sites in NJ

The American Red Cross will open two new service centers in the southern New Jersey region, one in Toms River and one in Atlantic City, for people whose homes are unlivable due to Superstorm Sandy. The Toms River service center will be in Thompson Hall at First United Methodist Church of Toms River, 129 Chestnut St. The other service center will be set up at the main entrance of Bader Field, 545 N. Albany Ave., Atlantic City. They will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 29 through Saturday, Dec. 1, and from 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Dec. 2.

Those whose homes are unlivable can meet with caseworkers to make recovery plans and learn more about the next steps they need to take. They will also be able to get current information on government resources and how to connect with resources in their areas. Health and mental health workers will be available to address emotional and health concerns. The sites will also have meals and other relief supplies for members of the public who need those items.

Services will be identical in both locations, which are handicapped accessible. People should bring some proof of their pre-disaster address, such as an ID, power bill or cable bill.

If people cannot get to either of the service delivery sites, they can call their local chapter or 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Red Cross continues to provide mobile feeding in targeted areas. Anyone who knows of urgent needs for meals or other services is asked to call 2-1-1 so the Red Cross and its partners can identify where needs still exist. People are also encouraged to reach out to the Red Cross by posting on its Facebook page or using Twitter to tell the Red Cross about needs in their neighborhoods.

Since the storm the Red Cross has provided more than 4 million meals and snacks, distributed more than 42,000 cleanup kits, and made more than 27,000 health and mental health visits to New Jersey residents affected by Superstorm Sandy. The Red Cross will be helping people for many weeks to come in what is likely to be the biggest Red Cross response in the last five years.