The Board of Directors of the American Red Cross Heart of the Valley Chapter recently welcomed their newest elected members to the board.
These new board members bring diverse experiences to this leadership body, including decades of experience in business administration, real estate market and healthcare. The newly elected board members are:
Lynette Piggee-Pinero - State of California;
Gerardo Rodriguez - HomeSmart PV & Associates;
Marissa Vasquez - Vasquez Psychological Services Inc.
Jim Horning of Delta Pacific Wealth Management, who serves on the Philanthropy Committee, will also lead the Bay Area Chapter Board as chairperson during the 2024-2025 fiscal year.
During the past fiscal year, Red Cross board members and volunteers in the Heart of the Valley Chapter responded to 196 local disasters, providing care, comfort, and hope to those affected; installed hundreds of free smoke alarms to make families safer; taught lifesaving skills like first aid, water safety skills, CPR and AED trainings to 10,565 residents; collected over 31,257 units of blood, and assisted 162 of members of the armed forces, veterans and their families.
“The new fiscal year brings a renewed sense of purpose and energy as we welcome our new Chapter Board of Directors. Their leadership and commitment are vital to our mission,” said Felicia Woolfolk, CEO of the American Red Cross Heart of the Valley Chapter.
With local offices in Merced, San Joaquin and Stanislaus counties for the Heart of the Valley Chapter, more information is available by visiting the website at redcross.org/hov or calling 209-645-1239. You can also find them on Facebook and Twitter.
Meanwhile, Red Cross officials across the state are encouraging everyone to take critical actions during National Preparedness Month this September to be ready for worsening disasters. Deadly storms and floods, raging fires and extreme heat are becoming more frequent and intense due to the climate crisis and families are experiencing the effects.
“Disasters can happen at any time, often without warning, changing lives forever in just minutes,” said Regional Chief Executive Officer Jacquie Clites. “As our climate changes, it’s critical to help protect your loved ones and National Preparedness Month is the ideal time to get your household ready for emergencies.”
How To Prepare
Get ready for disasters by making a plan to stay safe, gathering important supplies and knowing how you’ll stay connected. Follow these steps to prepare for emergencies:
Depending on the emergency, you may need to stay where you are or go somewhere else to stay safe. If you may need to leave, think about where you will go, how you will get there, where you will stay and what you’ll take with you. Plan well in advance if you’ll need help leaving or use public transportation.
Next, gather and organize critical supplies — like food, water and medicine — into a go-kit and a stay-at-home kit. Your go-kit should include three days of supplies that you can take with you. Your stay-at-home kit should have two weeks of food and water, and a one-month supply of medications, if possible.
Customize your kit to meet your household’s specific needs. If you have young children, don’t forget formula and diapers. If you have pets, include leashes, carriers, food, bowls, litter and a litterbox.
Make a plan to reconnect with loved ones if you are separated or if the phone or internet is down. Write down important phone numbers on a contact card and carry it with you.
Finally, download the free Red Cross Emergency app for real-time weather alerts and expert advice in both English and Spanish. You can also sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government to get critical information during local emergencies.
Climate Crisis
This year, experts forecasted active wildfires and hurricanes — predictions that are proving to be true. Northern California has already experienced several major wildfires this summer including the Thompson Fire, Park Fire, Crozier Fire, and Middle Fire.
In July, Hurricane Beryl broke records as the earliest Category 5 storm ever recorded and in early August, Hurricane Debby brought massive flooding to much of the East Coast. So far in 2024, 1.5 million more acres of land have been burned by wildfires compared to all of 2023. Plus, 2024 is on track to be the hottest year on record, according to experts. Altogether in 2024, the U.S has experienced 15 climate disasters, each with losses of over a billion dollars — nearly double the average from the last 40 years.
When these disasters happen, the Red Cross is there providing food, shelter and comfort to ensure no one faces such a difficult time alone. To help families better cope with this worsening climate crisis, the Red Cross is also enhancing its support for those who need it most and increasing its capacity to respond to non-stop disasters.
“The best defense during an emergency is to be prepared, and that’s true for both our individual families and our entire community,” said Clites. “During National Preparedness Month, consider donating to help people affected by disasters big and small, or making an appointment to give blood. If you have the time, take a first aid class or put on a red vest and join us as a volunteer.”
Visit redcross.org 800-RED CROSS (800-733-2767) to learn more.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission.
