There has been a lot of talk around here about zombies. This got me to thinking about zombies and the Red Cross. Obviously, we’re complimentary groups of people: The Red Cross is well-known because we help people prepare for and respond to emergencies, and, well, a zombie apocalypse is something to be prepared for.

This led me to the interwebs to do some research on this possible Red Cross/zombie relationship, and I found a lot of evidence that led me to believe that there is such a strong connection between us because zombies might actually LOVE the Red Cross. I know zombies are the walking dead, void of all emotions and dead set (pun intended) on consuming brains, but I think there’s some sort of soft spot in their dead hearts for the Red Cross.

Here is my evidence:

Run for Your Lives

This zombie infested run that has the goal of “destryoing” its participants may not seem like the most Red Cross-loving event one could stumble upon; however, the Red Cross is the charitable partner for this race. So technically, the zombies are chasing down runners to support our mission – and I think that’s sweet. I asked the co-race director, Derrick Smith, why he thought this was a good partnership. His response was, “When people think of a true zombie apocalypse scenario there tends to be a lot of bloodshed and general chaos, which is why the Red Cross was a natural fit to partner with. The Red Cross is the top organization out there for taking care of people in emergency situations, so we were more than happy to donate a portion of every ticket sale to their cause.” Photo courtesy of Happy Go Lucky Photography

Night of the Living Donors – Zombie Blood Drive

In Portland, the Zombie Squad took it upon themselves to partner with the local Red Cross to host a blood drive to help them be prepared in case of a zombie invasion. The Zombie Squad has been a great Red Cross partner over the years by helping us spread important disaster preparedness messages (I particularly like their Bug Out Bag) – in fact, their mission is similar to ours: “Zombie Squad’s mission is to educate the public about the importance of personal preparedness and community service, to increase its readiness to respond to disasters such as earthquakes, floods or zombie outbreaks.” Neat-o!

I asked Nate Warren, who helped coordinate the blood drive, why he thought zombies loved the Red Cross so much. His response was, “I think zombies love the Red Cross because, for one, they have an insatiable hunger and we can provide tastier alternatives to the boring and redundant diet of brains. Whether we’re dishing out cookies at blood drives or cooking up meals at disaster sites, it’s nearly impossible to find the Red Cross representing without “noms” nearby. Also, while most scream at the sight of the undead, the Red Cross prides itself on impartiality, and serves as a neutral force in conflicts as guardians of the Geneva Conventions and other treaties surrounding international humanitarian law. Finally, let’s get real: zombies smell and probably don’t know it. It’s time to bring the Red Cross humanitarian mission to the formerly living and reach out with comfort, understanding and rubber gloves.”

Hmmm, good point, Nate.

World Zombie Day
Lastly, I sought out another Red Cross connection – this time in the super prepared state of Colorado. Last year, the chapter published this extensive article on zombie preparedness in honor of World Zombie Day – however, I found that Colorado was far more concerned with helping people prepare for the zombie invasion rather than trying to embrace our undead friends. Patricia Billinger noted, “I think zombies fear the Red Cross because we build the type of neighborhoods that know how to band together, get out and fight back!”

So maybe the relationship between the Red Cross and zombies truly is a complimentary one. Zombies are giving us something to prepare for, and we’re giving our communities the tools and opportunities to be prepared. However, in my mind, if zombies truly didn’t care about YOU or the Red Cross, they wouldn’t be trying to gnaw brains during a race, or showing up to blood drives.

Deep down inside, I believe the zombies want you to be prepared so the unprepared are easier to pick off when the zombie apocalypse happens.

The popularity of the new shirts/logo was such that our chapter started purchasing bulk quantities of the shirts in different colors.

“Ooh, white with red trim!”
“Navy blue?! I love navy blue!”
“Finally! A long-sleeved version!”

Knowing my weakness for cute Red Cross clothing, our Health & Safety Department, which coordinated clothing and product sales, started checking with me before they selected and purchased new shirts.

At one point I had more than 20 Red Cross short-sleeved t-shirts, long-sleeved t-shirts, fleeces, hats, scarves, and polo shirts (I had to cave and purchase a polo shirt when I started teaching Health & Safety classes). And while I purged my closet just a bit when we moved, I still have about 10 articles of Red Cross clothing.

My 15-month-old niece is visiting this week, and she’s currently a big fan of wearing adult clothes over her cute little girl dresses and rompers. Once Lily had on a Red Cross t-shirt, Will and Hallie wanted to wear Red Cross t-shirts as well, and before we knew it a Red Cross Fashion Show was unfolding throughout the house.

I don’t wear my Red Cross shirts as often as I used to (when your primary contribution to the Red Cross is writing, it really doesn’t matter what you wear while getting your work done), so I’m thrilled these cuties are enjoying them.

“Red Cross goes high-tech” - how social media aids disaster responses [NECN via NBC]

Eton radios - stay on top of those weather warnings [Pinterest market]

Water safety ads from the Brazilian Red Cross - remember, safety first! [Pinterest | see here for all kinds of safety tips]

World Water Day 2012 – The World is Thirsty Because We Are Hungry - how will you celebrate WWD this Thursday? [YouTube]

Red blood cell-shaped mini soaps - reminding us that only 1 pint of blood can save up to 3 lives [Etsy]

Nonprofit Data Visualization: a Gallery - how nonprofits show their work through pictures and graphics [Chronicle of Philanthropy blog]

Please share any suggestions for our next WWR post!

If you’re anything like me, you probably haven’t followed through – at least not 100% – on your New Year’s Resolutions. Perhaps you resolved to start volunteering, or to donate blood more regularly, or to finally take that CPR class…and now here it is March, and you still haven’t signed up for an orientation, made an appointment to donate, or registered for the class.

What are you waiting for?

Don’t let the month of March – a perfect opportunity to finally act on those resolutions – pass you by without taking a step toward getting involved with the American Red Cross as a volunteer, blood donor, or class participant.

Here are the basics:

• If you’d like to donate blood, visit our blood donation website and enter your zip code. You’ll be immediately directed to a page listing all of the upcoming blood drives in your area. Follow the instructions to schedule an appointment online and then show up – it’s that easy!
• If you’d like to volunteer, click on the link to your chapter’s website, and then on the heading on the chapter’s homepage that reads, “Volunteer”. (Each chapter’s website is slightly different, but all will have links on their homepages with similar – if not identical – headings.) You’ll be volunteering before you know it! You can also call your local chapter to get information on volunteering.
• If you’d like to take a class, enter your zip code here.
• If you’d like to donate money, visit our donation page at redcross.org to see a variety of ways to donate.
• If you’d like to become a Red Cross Hero, sign up to help fundraise here.

I also encourage you to contact your local American Red Cross directly, as many chapters host incredibly unique and fun special events, fundraisers, and outreach opportunities (CPR Saturdays, Health and Safety Fairs, Heroes Fundraising Campaigns, etc.) in honor of March is Red Cross Month.

So, what are you waiting for?

Our Chief Nurse Sharon Stanley talks Red Cross Month with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation 

Back Bay Blackout [Power Outage tips]

Practice Mental Hygeine [More modern emotional health tips]

Can you really hide from a tornado? [Red Cross tornado tips]

Ghost Hunters in Henryville, IN [YouTube]

Contest! What 1 thing would you take if your house is on fire? [Fire safety tips]

On Wednesday, February 29th I received a call from National American Red Cross,

“We need you to go to Harrisburg, IL, a tornado tore through the town and we need immediate help. Can you go?”

It is the call that I love and I hate. I am so honored to part of the National Public Affairs Team where I get to tell the story of how the Red Cross is helping those in dire need after a disaster but it usually means lots of devastation and heartache.

The EF4 tornado hit the small town of Harrisburg and devastated two residential areas and one commercial area. I arrived during the wee hours of the morning so didn’t see much of the damage until the next morning. As I headed through town to an early morning interview, I turned my car into one of the worst hit areas. My heart sank. I felt tears burning my eyes and a lump forming in my throat. I shook it off and tried not to think about the crib laying in the front yard, the cars turned on their sides, the foundations that used to be someone’s home and the fact that people had lost their lives on that block.

During the interview, I was able to talk about what I know best – the work of the Red Cross. We had set up a shelter for the people that had severe damage or had lost their homes completely. We were providing 3 meals a day plus snacks and water to shelter residents, those without electricity and those that just needed a reprieve from the clean-up. Our disaster mental health workers were talking to people as they came in – some disheveled, many with a look of disbelief as they were seeing their homes for the first time that day. In the shelter, I was able to see firsthand the importance of providing a safe place for people to gather. Children were playing in the community area, families were gathering to figure out next steps, neighbors were meeting to check on each other, and others slept on cots – exhausted from the day.

Throughout the day, I spoke with many residents of Harrisburg and learned that it is a caring community where neighbors care about neighbors. They were rallying together to begin the clean-up process, hammering tarps into place, raking debris from yards, and hugging each other with compassion and sincerity. As Disaster Assessment volunteers began surveying the damage, people were placing piles of debris on the curbs. As we walked by, I saw family photos, toys, dishes, heirlooms, shoes, and many other tattered belongings. The insulation from some of the homes clung to the trees, grass, overhead wires, seemingly everything.

As I looked out over a hill that used to be filled with homes and families, I thought about how glad I am to be helping in some small way. I can provide comfort in a time of need. I can provide a shoulder to cry on and a compassionate ear to listen. I can meet the immediate needs of this community. I am the heart and the hands of financial donors of the American Red Cross.

Thank you for your support,
Tammie Pech
American Red Cross – Iowa Region

You can help people affected by disasters like the Midwest tornadoes and storms, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.

There’s a lot of space weather because the sun burps [NASA]

Old letters are fun to see [Roberthuffstutter on Flickr]

A Red Cross pin board [Liz Le Dorze Pinterest]

Things I would do during a zombie apocalypse [Graph Jam, hat tip to Michael Windle]

Volunteer Emily is headed to South Africa [Carolina Piedmont Red Cross blog]

First stop, the American Red Cross Store. Here are my five favorite items for sale at this online shop:

- Solarlink F360 Eton Emergency Radio (ON SALE for $53.96) The Red Cross sells a number of emergency radios, but this one is my favorite. I love the color (I’m partial to anything red), the four power sources, the auxiliary output, and the USB compatibility.

- 2012 One Red Cross Calendar ($9.95) What better way to ring in the new year than with a Red Cross calendar on which to keep track of all of your volunteer commitments! I’m particularly partial to Red Cross calendars as both of my kids have made appearances in the past. (They’re not in this year’s calendar – sorry.)

- Baby Vintage Onesie ($18.50) I love all of the Red Cross vintage clothing, but this onesie is one of my favorite pieces. Both of my kids sported Red Cross onesies at one time or another, but that was before the vintage option came out. I’ll be purchasing the vintage style for friends who are having babies in the next few months.

- Stainless Steel Water Bottle ($24.95) We’re all trying to live a little greener, so why not pick up one of these army green water bottles? They’re perfect for home, the office, the gym, and travel.

- Vintage Field Bag ($25.00) I LOVE this bag. It’s great for toting everything from Red Cross teaching materials to my laptop to diapers, and it goes with nearly everything.

There’s also plenty of Red Cross apparel, pins, first aid kids, and emergency kits and radios available, should those things be more in line with what your family and friends would like for the holidays.

Second stop, the American Red Cross Holiday Giving Catalog. If the family and friends for whom you’re shopping already have everything they need, consider purchasing a “gift” in their name for someone in need. Here are my five favorite options from the Holiday Giving Catalog:

- Hygiene Kits for 3 Homeless Veterans ($30) Approximately 1/3 of our country’s homeless population are veterans. This gift provides these heroes with personal hygiene items like a razor, toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, lotion, and more.

- Emergency Water Containers for 6 Families ($30) Water supplies disrupted by disasters can threaten community members with dehydration and disease. This gift provides families with containers to collect and store clean water.

- Vaccinations for 25 Children ($25) Measles still kills an estimated 450 people – mostly children – every day. This gift provides children with a lifetime of protection against this deadly disease.

- Swimming Lessons for 5 Children ($50) Many children don’t have access to swimming lessons that could someday save their lives. This gift helps increase safety around the water and prevent drowning.

- Gift of the Month ($300) Though a bit expensive by my holiday gift giving standards, this gift makes a powerful impact all year long by providing one item (infant care kit in January, hot meals in February, blankets in March, etc.) to someone in need each month.

Well now, that should cover just about everyone on your list, right? Happy shopping!

Anne Marie Borrego:
Hi Charlotte. First, I have to ask, what exactly is Serve?

Charlotte:
Serve is a new product from American Express that allows you to send and receive money from friends and family. You can access Serve online or through your mobile device or use your Serve card to make purchases everywhere American Express Cards are accepted.

To put it simply, we’ve all been in situations where we need to settle up with friends, go in on a gift, split the check or raise money for a cause – Serve makes it easy to move money wherever you are.

Anne Marie Borrego:
That’s helpful. So you’ve set up this special widget for the Red Cross. How does it work?

Charlotte:
We’ve developed a Serve Red Cross Charity Widget that can easily be downloaded to any web site, blog or social media page so that our customers and their friends can donate to the American Red Cross in just a few clicks.

As part of this partnership Serve will match contributions made through the Widget throughout the holiday season.

Anne Marie Borrego:
I should pause here and say thank you. Matching gifts like this help us stay out there with our shelters, show up when a house catches fire and do all of the good work that the nation relies on us to do.

Charlotte:
You’re very welcome. We, at Serve, are thankful and excited to partner with such an important organization to help make a difference this holiday season.

The money raised will fund critical needs like shelters, hot meals, and relief supplies to those affected by hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes, and floods.

Anne Marie Borrego:
One last question-After making a donation, I might want to share the widget with my friends. Can I do that?

Charlotte:
To help us spread the world and encourage your friends to participate, download the American Red Cross Charity Widget on your blog, Facebook page or any of the social networks you hang out, or simply go to the Red Cross Site to donate and help us reach the maximum goal this holiday season – every dollar counts!

Have you used the Holiday Giving Widget? Did you share it? Please leave a comment, letting us know what you think.

People across the country are ordering holiday cards, printing holiday cards and mailing holiday cards. Cards to friends, cards to colleagues, cards to far-flung family members. So many cards, in fact, that they can feel like a chore rather than an inspiring part of the season. What about including someone special who you may not know on that list this year? There’s no better way to get into the holiday spirit than to extend a word of thanks to someone who has honorably served our country.

In this series of posts, we’ll be sharing new ideas to celebrate the holidays with help from some of our closest partners. First up is an easy way to support the troops, veterans and their families. All that’s needed is paper, something to write with, and an appreciative heart.

Our own Anne Marie Borrego recently interviewed Les Morris, spokesperson from Simon Property Group:

Anne Marie Borrego:
Thanks, Les. The Red Cross has collected and distributed greeting cards for members of the military, veterans and their families for the last five years through its Holiday Mail for Heroes program. These cards—from individuals across the country—thank these honorable men and women for their commitment and sacrifices. This year, Simon Malls is joining us in the effort. How are you making it fun and easy to get involved?

Les Morris:
There are two ways to get involved. First, we have holiday cards available to sign at the guest services counter in our mall locations. Also, we’ve got a club called the Simon Kidgets Club. Its a program offered to children ages 3-8 and their parents. At this time of the year, there are several different types of family and holiday activities. One of the activities being offered is creating holiday cards for the troops using markers, glue and construction paper. The children love this heart warming activity and it is in support of the American Red Cross’s Holiday Mail for Heroes program.

Anne Marie Borrego:
It’s got to mean so much to our troops and their families when they get those handmade cards. What do people do if they can’t get to the mall for a card-making event?

Les Morris:
You can drop off a card up until Dec 11 at a guest services booth in any Simon Mall.

Anne Marie Borrego:
Great. And I believe that you also have a great gift idea that helps out the Red Cross.

Les Morris:
Simon Property Group is pleased to offer customers the chance to donate to the American Red Cross by purchasing a Simon Amex Candy Cane gift card. $1 of $3 will go to American Red Cross. You can also buy the cards online .

Anne Marie Borrego:
That discount is only being offered to Red Cross supporters on the Red Cross Website and blog, right?

Les Morris:
Absolutely!

Anne Marie Borrego:
That’s excellent. Thanks, Les, for all you do for the Red Cross and for our troops this holiday season.

Red Cross volunteers will be at many of the Simon Malls card-making events. If you see them, say hello, and if you make a card, be sure to share photos of your handiwork on our Facebook wall.