A few Red Cross stories...

I have had the opportunity to do and see some really cool things while working for the Red Cross. Here is list of a few....

My first day of work for the Red Cross was back in August 2003 and Riviera Beach got hit with 3 tornados the previous day which was very rare for this area. I was immediately sent out on an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) to provide meals to the devastated areas. It was a great way for me to start my career off by seeing first hand what the Red Cross is all about.

I started with the Red Cross as an event planner, coordinating special events in the Palm Beaches. I had the opportunity to plan some parties in several multi million dollar homes, at the International Polo Club Palm Beach, and attend our International Ball at Mar-a-Lago. These events are like no other event I have been to in Oklahoma or anywhere else for that matter, but that is what Palm Beach is all about....charity events!

The next opportunity that I always remember is traveling over to the Gulf Coast after Hurricane Charley to pickup some major donors ($1 million or more) and show them the devastation and work of the Red Cross. Meeting some of these donors and seeing where there money was being applied was a very moving experience. It helped me understand why fundraising is so important and why Red Cross is organization that is always necessary.

The next event that had the biggest impact in my Red Cross experiences was Hurricane Frances. Every staff member at my chapter is assigned to a Hurricane Shelter and must remain their before, during and after the storm. I am assigned to the Special Needs shelter (includes oxygen dependent patients, patients with caregivers, children with special needs, etc.) Hurricane Frances happen to come at the time of my parents vacation to Florida, so needless to say they became immediate Red Cross volunteers and signed up to come the shelter. As with every other hurricane Alisa came right along with me to volunteer. This hurricane was like no other because it took so long to finally hit Palm Beach County and pass out into the ocean. My shelter is usually the first to open and last to close, because the people in my shelter require electricity and food, therefore we have to get everyone into the shelter a day before landfall and we don't close until everyone has a source of power at their residence. Although Frances kept me and my family in the shelter for 8 straight days, I must say it was one of the most rewarding experiences in my life. Not only did I get to spend some amazing times with my parents and Alisa, but I met some amazing people staying in the shelter (i.e. an original "Rockette", now in her 80's) I can't thank my family enough for their help, but I know they enjoyed it just as much as I did.

My final experience was just last week. I helped coordinate a luncheon to educate the local affluent Jewish community on our efforts with Magen David Adom (Red Cross in Israel). Ambassador Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the Red Cross, was the keynote speaker. Meeting her alone was a very cool moment but that was just the beginning. After the luncheon I had the opportunity to go with Ambassador McElveen-Hunter and two other Red Crossers, and visit the "Hurricane Hunter" This is the plane that flies into hurricanes to research its strength among numerous other things. We were taken on a tour of the plane and showed all the bells and whistles. It is basically a research lab in the sky, but is was quite a thrill to see it in person. I never thought I would get to meet the Chairman of the Red Cross or see the "Hurricane Hunter", but both were very cool. Sorry for such a long post, but once I started thinking about my experience with Red Cross it just started flowing!