Red Cross Asks for Help saying Thank You to Local Veterans

(Evansville) – The American Red Cross of Southwestern Indiana is proud to announce a new program designed to engage the community by donating personal items to help stuff totes for local Veterans in need.

The Totes of Hope program was created by the American Red Cross as a way to say more than just thank you for their service to our country for Veteran’s Day. “Services to our Armed Forces and Veterans is a vital component of Red Cross Services and when we heard many of our local veterans were lower income or homeless and need of vital supplies to survive, we knew this was a community problem we wanted to help combat,” said Matt Bertram, Regional Chapter Executive.

Totes of Hope aims to engage the community to help collect supplies over the next three weeks. All donated supplies will then be stuffed in a Red Cross totes and delivered to local veterans on Friday, November 13th at both the Evansville VA Clinic and Vet Center. You can help stuff a tote and offer hope to a local veteran by donating any of the following supplies:

§ Baby Wipes
§ Hand Sanitizer
§ Shampoo/Conditioner
§ Soap (If Possible with Plastic Caddy)
§ Deodorant
§ Razors & Shaving Cream
§ Toothbrush (If Possibly with Plastic Caddy)
§ Toothpaste & Dental Floss
§ Pocket Pack Facial Tissues
§ Plastic Combs & Brushes
§ Socks
§ Shower Shoes or Flip Flops
§ Stocking Caps/Ear Muffs
§ Diabetic Socks
§ Gloves
§ Small Umbrellas
§ Phone cards
§ Crossword Puzzles
§ Sudoku Books
§ Books or Magazines
§ Deck of Cards
§ Pocket Calendars
§ Prescription Caddy
§ Bus Tokens
§ Canned Goods
§ Can Openers

“We hope people will think about items they need to survive including toiletries, personal items and cold weather clothing and help us ensure our local veterans have these items as the winter months approach” said Joyce Cosby, Red Cross Services to Armed Forces Manager. “If every person in our community would donate one item, we could meet our goal of stuffing 400 totes helping to say more than just thank you to our local heroes in time for Veteran’s Day,” said Cosby.

Donations of the above listed supplies can be dropped off at the American Red Cross building at 29 S. Stockwell Road in Evansville or at Schlotzsky’s Deli on 301 North Green River Road. Donations will be accepted through Friday, November 5th. 2009.

“We truly hope the community will get behind this program and help us support our local veterans because they helped serve for our freedom and this is the least we can do to say thank you on Veteran’s Day and help deliver hope in their lives,” said Matt Bertram. For more information about the Totes of Hope Program visit our website www.evansvilleredcross.org.

Scrubby Bear Sets a Record Educating Local Kids

(Evansville) – As fears about the H1N1 virus continue to grow in Tri-State, the American Red Cross is doing its part to help educate the public about how to prepare and lessen the chances of contracting the H1N1 virus. To help, all local Red Cross chapters have stepped up their outreach efforts utilizing Scrubby Bear, our hand washing mascot and the use of safety information & brochures that available online or at your local Red Cross chapter.

In September, chapter staff and volunteers set a record for educating area kids using Scrubby Bear, our hand washing mascot. “We are proud to announce that since September 1^st that Scrubby Bear presented his clean hands presentation to over 857 kids at 28 presentations, nearly three times as many as usual due to the increasing number of requests coming into our office,” said Matt Bertram, Regional Chapter Executive. “This number includes over 40 students and girl scouts that learned how to properly wash their hands today alone,” Bertram said.

Scrubby Bear teaches kids through song how they can wash their hands and eliminate germs. “Scrubby Bear teaches very simple lessons that we can all learn from including washing your hands with hot water and soap while singing the song “Row, Row, Row, Your Boat” two times, spotlighting the amount of time needed to eliminate germs on our hands,” Bertram said.

The goal of the American Red Cross is to ensure all kids and parents have the necessary information to feel safe against the H1N1 virus, because education is the key to calming fears. “We encourage schools, daycares, after-school programs and community organizations to contact their local Red Cross chapter and schedule a Scrubby Bear Presentation; it’s a free presentation that will teach simple lessons kids will retain to stay safe.”

H1N1 Flu Virus Preparedness, Be Red Cross Ready Information and other safety information is also available for download in both English and Spanish from our website www.tristateredcross.org, by calling or visiting your local American Red Cross chapter.