RadioShack Donates $50,000 to Red Cross To Support Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts

written by Lilly Watson, staff contributor



When disaster hits, the American Red Cross is thankful for supporters who help us take on the massive undertaking of getting those affected back on their feet. That's why we're happy to share that RadioShack Corp. today announced a $50,000 donation to the American Red Cross to support Hurricane Sandy relief efforts. The donation will help cover costs of shelter, food, recovery and other assistance to families affected by the storm.

“Hurricane Sandy has been a storm of historic magnitude,” said Dorvin L. Lively, CEO of RadioShack Corp. “RadioShack wants to support the Red Cross in its efforts to help the communities and families we serve get back to normal as quickly as possible.”

RadioShack is also encouraging customers to join them in supporting the Red Cross. Through mobile donations, the customers can donate $10 to American Red Cross directly by texting RED CROSS to 90999, then confirming the donation. The donation amount will appear on the customer’s next monthly invoice. RadioShack will be also be using its social media channels, such a their Facebook page, to share mobile donation instructions and encourage additional contributions.

Thank you, Radio Shack, for supporting us as we bring help and hope to those in the line of Hurricane Sandy! To support the Red Cross with a donation, follow our text to give instructions above or click here to make an online donation.

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Give Something That Means Something

Written by Joanna Jordan, Volunteer Writer, American Red Cross

A fire, tornado or earthquake is never expected. It’s a traumatic experience for anyone, especially those who are left without a way to provide food for themselves or their loved ones. In our local area, the most common disaster this holiday season will be a single family house fire.

Imagine going to bed at night and waking up to your screaming smoke alarm hours later. You make it out of the house with your family, but you're all in your pajamas. No one is wearing shoes and you don't have your wallet. The reality begins to set in that you don't have anywhere to go and you don't have the ability to cook your kids breakfast in the morning. What will you do?

For thousands of disaster victims every year, this scenario is very much their reality. That's why the American Red Cross is there; to help disaster victims rebuild their lives by providing comforting, hot meals to give them strength for the difficult journey they may have ahead.

You can help provide quality meals for those in need by donating this holiday season. Your donation of $30 will feed three people, $50 will feed five and $300 will feed 30. Anything you are able to give will comfort those who are in the midst of a disaster.

Go to www.redcross.org/gifts to learn about the many ways you can help here at home, around the nation and around the world. Give Something that Means Something through the Holiday Giving Catalog.

On behalf of all of us at the American Red Cross, we wish you a safe and happy holiday season!

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Frequently Asked Questions: Spring Storms and Tornadoes

How can I donate food and/or clothing, toys, etc. to victims of the disaster?
On larger relief operations we serve thousands of meals to victims of disaster and first responders every day. In order to ensure we meet health codes and are as efficient as possible, we are not able to accept donations of food from individuals. If you would like to donate food items, we recommend contacting your local food bank for information. If you’re interested in starting a food drive, it’s best to contact the food bank before you start collecting, so that you’re collecting exactly what is needed so that your donation can make the biggest impact in your community.

Donations like clothing and shoes require a lot of resources to sort, clean and distribute. Since our focus is on meeting the immediate needs of disaster victims, we work with agencies in the community, such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries who are set up to process these types of donations. You can also call 211 for information on where you can take material items you have collected.

Why doesn’t the Red Cross accept donations of clothing and other small items?
Our primary focus after a disaster is getting help to large numbers of people in a short amount of time. We try to focus our workers on that goal and often don’t have the resources that it takes to sort, process, store and transport small donations.

In addition, we want to be consistent in the help we give to disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of goods that help us do that. Financial donations also help us meet any specific needs a disaster client might have.

Will the Red Cross replace groceries or food lost because of a power outage?
Red Cross feeding services at shelters and through mobile feeding efforts are meant to ensure that no one goes hungry after a disaster. Power outages are often widespread and sometimes affect hundreds of thousands of people. It would be nearly impossible—both logistically and financially—for the Red Cross to replace groceries for that many people.

How can the American people help during this difficult time?
People can help by making a donation to help the thousands of people affected by this disaster. They can donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Does my donation really help? What will it be used for?
The donations we receive for Red Cross Disaster Relief are put to good use. 91 cents of every dollar is used to support disaster victims. Any donation, large or small, will help. For example, $3 can provide a comfort kit containing personal hygiene items for someone in a disaster. $6 can cover the cost of a blanket, $10 the cost of a hot meal. A $50 donation can cover the cost of food and shelter for a day, including three meals, blankets, comfort kits and the Red Cross expense of mobilizing them to the disaster area. For $150, someone’s donation can cover the cost of providing food and shelter to a family of four for a day they spend in a shelter.

What is the Red Cross doing to help people affected by these deadly Spring storms?
Red Cross workers are deploying from all over the country, and we are helping people today – and we will be helping them in the weeks ahead as they try to get back on their feet.

Our first priority is to provide food and shelter to the thousands of people whose lives were turned upside down by these storms. We are focused on providing safe shelter, feeding victims and emergency workers, providing mental health and emotional support services, providing basic first aid and health services, and distributing clean-up supplies and comfort items.

This is a severe and widespread disaster affecting a number of states, and many people are depending on the Red Cross and our government partners for assistance. Some areas are taking time to get to because of the destruction and impassible roads.

How does the Red Cross pay for the services it provides?
We rely on the donations of the American people to support our work. Financial contributions to American Red Cross Disaster Relief allow us to serve victims of more than 70,000 disasters a year. Every day, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 200 disasters ranging from house fires to tornadoes and massive hurricanes – each one devastating to the people involved.

I have friends and family in the affected area. Is there any way to find out if they are okay?
The Red Cross Safe and Well secure Web site is a way to find out how loved ones are in a disaster. The people in the affected area can let their loved ones know they are safe by registering as “safe and well” with a telephone number or address. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search the site for messages from their loved ones.

• To register, people should visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”.
• People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.
• Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well Web site.
• From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.
• From any phone call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and one of our operators can help you register.

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Blood Products Shipped to Alabama

Tornadoes and floods have devastated communities and uprooted families across many states, and the Red Cross is working to provide materials, equipment and blood products to areas hardest hit.

The Red Cross is moving hundreds of blood products to Alabama to make sure hospital patients have the blood they need following the deadly tornadoes there on Wednesday night.

This severe weather has caused the cancellation of 811 blood and platelet donations this week, mostly in the Southeast, South Central and Mid-Atlantic areas.

Maintaining sufficient blood to meet patient needs is a delicate balance between supply and demand. The Red Cross urges eligible donors in unaffected areas to make an appointment to give blood or platelets in the coming days and weeks.

All blood types are needed, but type O-negative donors can make the difference between an adequate blood supply and a shortage.

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Social Media Club of Dallas to Host "Dallas 4 Japan"

On Thursday, March 24th, the Social Media Club of Dallas will host "Dallas 4 Japan," a networking event and fundraiser for the American Red Cross. The event will be held at the Aloft Hotel in Dallas from 7:00-9:00 p.m. Donations from this event will go to support the American Red Cross disaster relief efforts in Japan. Grab your tickets now!

We hope to see you there! Can't make it? You can follow the conversation on Twitter using the hashtag #Dallas4Japan.

Watch this moving video and make plans to attend this event!

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Mega 107.5 to Help Raise Money for Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief

Mega 107.5 will be collecting financial donations for the American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan in three location on Saturday, March 19.

CARWASH at Wendy's
2328 W. Illinois Ave
Dallas, TX 75224
10am-4pm

Virgin Mobile
Station Remote with Shoboy
618 Park Row Dr.
Arlington, TX 76010
12pm- 2pm
Shoboy will be at this location

Car Toys
3301 W Airport Freeway
Irving, TX 75062
2-4 pm
Eddie J will be at this location

Join us if you can!

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Gene & Julie from 103.7 Lite FM to Help Raise Money for Japan Earthquake/Tsunami Relief

The Gene & Julie Show on 103.7 Lite FM will be out at 3 locations on Friday, March 18, from 6 a.m. – 9 a.m. collecting financial donations for the American Red Cross relief efforts in Japan.

Starbucks Flower Mound
2646 Flower Mound Road
Flower Mound, TX 75028
(News Director David Rancken will be here)

Starbucks Garland
6075 Broadway
Garland, TX 75043
(Producer Kelly Fair will be here)

Starbucks Forest Hill
3300 SE Loop 820
Forest Hill, TX 76140
(Web Producer Jeanne McGuire will be here)

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CBS11 and TX21 Keep the Red Cross Ready With $5,000 Donation

This past spring we announced that CBS 11 and TX21 were going to promote NOAA weather radios sales at area Walgreens stores to benefit the D/FW Red Cross chapters.

Well we're pleased to report that yesterday CBS 11 Chief Meteorologist Larry Mowry(middle), presented Jessica Dunn, Dallas Area Chapter (left), and Patricia Thomson, Chisholm Trail Chapter (right) with a check for $5,000. We are so excited and so grateful for their support!

We're also proud of the CBS 11 and TX 21 viewers that purchased weather radios.

September is National Preparedness Month, a time set aside for the last seven years to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities.

The American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter urges North Texas residents to make a renewed effort this month to prepare for emergencies such as fires, floods or storms. Our free online education program, Be Red Cross Ready, can walk you through the three key preparedness steps: getting an emergency kit, making an emergency plan and being informed.

You can start by purchasing a weather radio for your home, if you have not already done so.

Learn more about being prepared by visiting www.redcrossdallas.org/.

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Relief from the Twilight Saga?

Last Wednesday, I was among the many Americans preparing for the midnight release of the third Twilight Saga movie Eclipse. My teenage daughter invited friends over to play trivia games, eat chocolate covered strawberries and pose next to life-size posters of the two heart throbs from the movie.

But, as many Americans choose whether they are team Edward or team Jacob, the author of the book series, Stephenie Meyer, has already proven she is on team American Red Cross. She released a novella early in June titled The Short Second Life of Bree Tanner. One dollar from each copy sold in the United States will be donated to the American Red Cross for relief efforts.

As of July 1st more than a million copies have been sold - thus a million dollars have been donated to the Red Cross. If you are already caught up in the Twilight phenomenon or just looking for a quick summer read, pick up a copy of this new book. What a great way to give to the Red Cross.

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