Since last Friday, our Disaster Action Team volunteers have responded to seven local fires and a power outage, providing emergency assistance to a total of 49 people. Make sure you’re following @RedCrossENY on Twitter for regular updates from disaster responses around the region.

Meanwhile, our Preparedness Team has been on a roll, installing 804 free smoke alarms during the month of August! Since July 1, we’ve made more than 600 homes in our region safer with free fire safety education and resources. And September is National Preparedness Month which means we’re doing even more to get Eastern New Yorkers “Red Cross Ready” for emergencies! Comment on this Facebook post to let us know what you put in your emergency kit!

The 2018 Northeastern New York Real Heroes Breakfast is coming up quickly and we want you to be there! Last year’s event was filled with special moments that left us feeling truly inspired. Make plans now to join us on Tuesday, October 30 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Troy to meet this year’s Real Heroes and celebrate their impact on our community!

As kids across the region headed back to school this week, we shared important tips to help keep them safe as they travel to and from the classroom.

Our local Development Coordinator, Melissa Fleck, wrote a personal reflection on what it’s like to deliver Red Cross services on the front lines of disaster when your normal work is typically done behind a desk. She reminds us all that regardless of when, where or how you serve, it matters.

Our friends at NewsChannel 13 hosted their Save a Life Blood Drive this week, giving blood donors across the Capital Region opportunities to donate blood at locations in Colonie, Troy, Clifton Park, and Johnstown. Leading up to the drive, Benita Zahn shared inspiring stories from two local blood recipients – a 12-year old girl battling sickle cell disease and a father of three diagnosed with leukemia. The Save a Life Blood Drive resulted in 201 units of blood collected to help patients in need. Be sure to watch Benita’s stories to learn more about how your blood donations make a difference, and schedule your next appointment to donate at redcrossblood.org!

Last but not least, we’re one week into our month-long fundraising campaign with Price Chopper/Market 32 and NewsChannel 13. Don’t forget that from September 1-30, you can donate $1 or $5 at any Price Chopper/Market 32 checkout to help people affected by disasters big and small. Price Chopper/Market 32 will forward 100% of all donations collected during this time period, and will match donations up to $5,000!

The American Red Cross Eastern New York Region is made up of approximately 1,800 volunteers serving 24 counties in Upstate New York. With a wide array of programs and services being offered throughout the year, there’s usually a lot going on! We share regular updates on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and more…but just in case you miss any of that, use our weekly roundup to catch up on the highlights! Did we miss something worth sharing? Email us anytime at news.eny@redcross.org!