Volunteers with the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to four home fires in Champaign, Pekin, Peoria and Rossville from June 28 through today.
In this past week, volunteers helped 18 individuals including eight adults and ten children with health services, financial assistance and information about recovery planning.
A fire can take a home in as little as two minutes. Therefore, escaping in less than two minutes can be the difference between survival and tragedy. The American Red Cross encourages everyone to talk to their children about fire safety to help families stay safe and prepared.
In addition, Red Cross volunteers provided support to first responders with food and water while battling a fire in Mapleton.
Our volunteers also delivered 35 comfort kits to Home Sweet Home Ministries in Bloomington. Over the weekend, Red Cross teams were out in the community distributing cleaning supplies to people impacted by flooding and provided meals and snacks to McLean County Emergency Management officials and volunteers.
If you need assistance after a home fire or disaster, please call our dispatch line: 1-844-319-6560.
Blood Shortage
The Red Cross continues to experience a severe blood shortage that is negatively affecting blood product availability for patients at hospitals across the country. While summer is traditionally a time when blood donations decline, this year is particularly challenging as many Americans receive their vaccinations and resume summer activities after more than a year of limited interactions and travel, leading to lower donor turnout. Donors of all blood types – especially type O – are urged to make an appointment to give now.
In thanks for helping meet patient needs at a challenging time of year, all who come to give July 7-31 will receive automatic entry for a chance to win gas for a year (a $5,000 value) and a $10 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Additional information and details are available at rcblood.org/fuel. Those who come to give throughout the month of July will also be automatically entered to win a trip for four to Cedar Point or Knott’s Berry Farm. More details are available at rcblood.org/CedarFair.
15th Annual Rock-N-Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive
Wednesday, July 7h from 12pm-6pm, at the Par-A-Dice Hotel Ballroom in East Peoria
East Peoria Community High School and the American Red Cross invites eligible blood donors to donate at the 15th Annual Rock-N-Roll Up Your Sleeve Blood Drive. Please make an appointment today to give by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App enter ROCKANDROLL or visiting redcrossblood.org. All presenting donors will receive a $10 VISA Gift Card. Thank you to our media partners: WMBD News & 105.7 The X Rocks
Become a Red Cross Volunteer
Join us to provide relief and care wherever it’s needed — today and for years to come by becoming a volunteer. To find out more about available positions, and sign up today visit redcross.org/volunteer
There are multiple positions available, including the ones listed below:
Blood Donor Ambassadors and Blood Transportation Specialists - Blood Donor Ambassadors welcome visitors to the Red Cross facilities or blood drives and take their temperatures before they enter. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, course participants and Red Cross employees and volunteers. Blood Transportation Specialist volunteers deliver lifesaving blood products from Red Cross distribution facilities to hospitals, using a Red Cross-owned vehicle. You’ll also need to meet these important qualifications: Have a valid state driver’s license and proof of insurance, have three years driving experience and a clean driving record.
Disaster Action Team Volunteers - Home fires and other disasters can occur any time, any place. As a Disaster Action Team volunteer, you’ll provide emotional support and information to help families begin the process of recovery. After your initial training, your shifts will include responding to emergencies within 2 hours, coordinating remotely to provide immediate compassion and care.
About the American Red Cross of Illinois The American Red Cross of Illinois serves 12.4 million people in 88 counties in Illinois, Iowa and Missouri including Adams, Bond, Boone, Brown, Bureau, Carroll, Cass, Champaign, Christian, Clark, Clay, Clinton, Cook, Coles, Crawford, Cumberland, DeKalb, De Witt, Douglas, DuPage, Edgar, Effingham, Fayette, Ford, Franklin, Fulton, Green, Grundy, Hamilton, Hancock, Henderson, Henry, Iroquois, Jasper, Jefferson, Kane, Kankakee, Kendall, Knox, LaSalle, Lake, Lee, Livingston, Logan, Macon, Macoupin, Marion, Marshall, Mason, McDonough, McHenry, McLean, Menard, Mercer, Montgomery, Morgan, Moultrie, Ogle, Peoria, Perry, Piatt, Pike, Putnam, Richland, Rock Island, Sangamon, Schuyler, Scott, Shelby, Stark, Stephenson, Tazewell, Vermillion, Warren, Washington, Whiteside, Will, Williamson Winnebago, Woodford. Iowa: Lee, Muscatine, Scott and Van Buren. Missouri: Clark, Lewis, Marion and Ralls. The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit us at Redcross.org/Illinois or visit us on Twitter @RedCrossIL.