March is American Red Cross Month: Senator Parker Urges Humanitarianism & Community Involvement

For Immediate Release: Monday, March 21, 2011

Please Contact: Ricja Rice, Esq.

Telephone: (518) 455-2580           

Email:  rrice@nysenate.gov

 March is American Red Cross Month: Senator Parker Urges Humanitarianism & Community Involvement

(Albany, NY) Senator Parker (D-21) is reminding New Yorkers that March is American Red Cross Month, and encouraging all New Yorkers to help their communities and not for profits like the Red Cross.

American Red Cross Month is a longstanding tradition marking the important work of the organization which has provided critical assistance during people’s time of need for more than 125 years. Founded by Clara Barton, who served wounded soldiers in the Civil War, she helped inspire the profession of nursing; the principles of the Red Cross can be summed up in this Barton quote: “I have an almost complete disregard of precedent and a faith in the possibility of something better.”

Senator Parker said, “The Red Cross is the cornerstone humanitarian organization of our country and, even New Yorkers not affiliated with the organization are inspired to help our neighbors. Every year thousands of residents’ lives are touched by the aid its employees and volunteers provide, and we can use this month to raise awareness of their activities.”

The American Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian network – 97 million volunteers helping in 186 countries and has operated as the nation’s leading emergency response organization since its inception. The organization provides humanitarian aid nationally and internationally, supports the armed forces and their families and acts as the nation’s primary blood bank. Everyday tens of thousands of Americans are aided by the Red Cross:

• 200 times a day, American Red Cross volunteers help a family who has lost everything in a house fire or other disaster.
• 475 times a day, the American Red Cross connects deployed service members with their families.
• 21,000 times a day, a patient receives blood through the American Red Cross blood program.
• 43,000 times a day, someone receives life-saving American Red Cross health, safety and preparedness training.

The senator concluded, “Red Cross Month is a time to acknowledge the giving and humanitarian  spirit that exists throughout the Red Cross in the form of volunteers, donors, partners and employees.  To give thanks and honor to the members of the Red Cross, I encourage New Yorkers to take the time this month to give back to an organization that gives us so much.”

There are many ways to contribute to your local Red Cross, including volunteering, giving donations, taking a CPR class, or giving blood. There are chapters throughout all regions of the state, which makes supporting the one most applicable to your area a simple process. To learn more about the Red Cross, donate, or find your local chapter, visit www.redcross.org.

Other great organizations serving our community include:

• New York Cares: http://www.newyorkcares.org/
• City Harvest: http://www.cityharvest.org/

About Senator Kevin Parker

Senator Kevin S. Parker is committed to restoring the overall quality of life for the constituents of the 21st Senatorial District in Brooklyn.  A lifelong Brooklyn resident, Senator Parker has been a Flatbush resident for more than 30 years.  Having been nurtured, schooled and employed in the district, Senator Parker is intimately familiar with the needs of ethnically diverse community that consists of 311,000 constituents in several communities that include:  Flatbush, East Flatbush, Midwood, Ditmas Park, Kensington and Borough Park.

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