Centre Communities Chapter
American Red Cross

Serving the people of the central mountain and valley region of Pennsylvania with offices, volunteers, and staff in State College and Philipsburg and on the main campus of the Pennsylvania State University. Chapter offices are in Suite 203, 205 E. Beaver Avenue, State College, PA 16801, the Glennland Building, at the corner of Beaver and Pugh Streets in downtown State College. Telephone 814/237-3162, e-mail chapter@cccredcross.org ,FAX 814/237-0999.

We all have to look out for one another. Prepare yourself. Volunteer. Contribute what you can, your money or yourself.

At-A-Glance

Haiti Earthquake Relief/ American Red Cross International Response Fund
You can help the victims of countless crises, like the recent earthquake in Haiti, around the world each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross International Response Fund, which will provide immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to help those in need. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster, please do so at the time of your donation by mailing your donation with the designation to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013 or to your local American Red Cross chapter. Donations to the International Response Fund can be made by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish) or online at www.redcross.org

Chapter Alert — Red Cross Responds To Massive Fire In Bellefonte
Red Cross disaster relief workers responded to an early morning fire in downtown Bellefonte on December 22. Families living in the Cadillac Building fled from the flames into freezing temperatures. Red Cross will work with each family to make sure their emergency disaster caused needs are met. If you would like to help the victims of this and other local disasters, please give to the Local Disaster Relief Fund of the Centre Communities Chapter, 205 E. Beaver Avenue, Suite 203, State College, PA 16801. To make a credit card donation, please call (814) 237-3162. (Photo: Centre Daily Times/Nabil K. Mark)
Link to YouTube fire video here

The Chapter is on Facebook. Become a fan! Just click the link:

Report to the Community 2008 - 2009, The Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross
It was another successful year for the Chapter, thanks to your volunteer hours, donations and class enrollments. For the full story, click here, or on the "Annual Report" button at the top of this page.
 

Penn State Red Cross Club: Wednesday, February 24, All You Can Eat Spaghetti Dinner
When?  5 - 8 pm. Where: 208 W. Foster Avenue (St. Andrews Church lower level), State College. All proceeds to benefit the Student Red Cross Club. Tickets are $5 and can be bought at the door.
 

Annual Chapter Paint the Town Red Benefit Dinner, Auction, and Formal
Dinner, auction and raffle and dance. Auction and raffle items include Pittsburgh Penguin tickets, a weekend in Avalon, a signed baton from the Penn State Blue Band's Blue Sapphire and more. Saturday, March 20th from 6 - 11 pm at the Nittany Lion Inn.

Blood Services
1a. Blood Drives:  From Bellefonte to Brisbin, Howard to Houtzdale, Snow Shoe to Spring Mills, there is, or will be, a Red Cross bloodmobile near you. 

Click schedule for the list of donor sites. To schedule an appointment, please call 1-800-GIVELIFE. {That's 1-800-448-3543.} Or schedule an appointment yourself online at www.givelife.org

And to our friends and neighbors on the latest Blood Donor Honor Roll, thank you.

1b. Support THON With A Blood Donation
THON Weekend is February 19-21, 2010. Come to donate blood at a Penn State Red Cross Club blood drive from now until 2/19 and earn $4.00 to go toward your favorite THON organization's fundraising total!
Each year, the Penn State IFC/Panhellenic Dance Marathon, affectionately known as THON, raises money to fight against pediatric cancer. This year, the Blood Services Division of the American Red Cross is making the donation to support THON in its efforts. Since 1977, THON has raised more than $61 million for the Four Diamonds Fund at Penn State Children's Hospital.

Your Chapter at Work
2. Looking Out For Each Other,
During the July 2008 - June 2009 fiscal year, the chapter provided assistance for 89 individuals who were affected by local fires and floods and provided mass feeding for 417 emergency workers and clients. We helped 80 military families who were experiencing a crisis and provided casework services  for two international families.  We collected 17,914 units of blood (7,865 on the Penn State campus) and 745 units of platelets. We trained 5,777 residents in lifesaving skills such as CPR and First Aid. We provided all these services with the help of 1,627 community volunteers. All of this on a budget of approximately $500,000 (all of which we raise locally). We are not a government-funded organization, nor are we funded by our own national headquarters.

Support Your Chapter
3a. Support Your Local Chapter  We all have to look out for one another. Volunteer. Take a course. Give blood. Contribute what you can, your money or yourself.

We receive no money from Red Cross National Headquarters; we receive no money from the government. Money you donate to a Gulf Coast hurricane or other nationally publicized disaster benefits the victims of the designated disaster; it does not support your local chapter. It does not support your local Chapter's response to our own house fires and floods. It is your direct contributions that keep this Chapter's doors open.
Click $upport to make a donation.

Disaster Services

The American Red Cross encourages people to register themselves on the Safe and Well Website, which is accessible at all times via www.redcross.org , or by clicking on the banner link. The Safe and Well Website is an Internet-based tool that allows those affected by a disaster to let their loved ones know of their well-being. People within a disaster-affected area are able to select and post standard messages. Concerned family members who know the person's current phone number or a complete home address can then search for the posted messages, providing peace of mind.

4a.  Disaster Services Training See a description of the Disaster Services Training classes by clicking training. Another series will be scheduled soon. Be a part of the action. Volunteer to lend a hand.

4b. Flu News  To identify and avoid the flu, see this handy "Be Red Cross Ready" flu checklist . To keep up to date with the latest developments with the new H1N1 flu virus, check out the Center For Disease Control's Web site.
 

Health & Safety Services
5a.Conventional First Aid and CPR Classes: The Chapter schedule of classroom instruction is accessible here. These include First Aid, CPR with AED (Automated External Defibrillator), Babysitter's Training, CPR/AED for the Professional Rescuer, and Instructor Training.
Water Safety and Lifeguarding courses are given by cooperating organizations. Click Friends or Lifesaving .

5b. Blended Learning (Online) First Aid and CPR Classes: This is the  Red Cross version of Web-based education. Blended Learning is part online, part classroom.  After successful completion of the online components, finish up with an abbreviated classroom session of review and skills demonstration. The Blended Learning schedule, including a link to a demo, can be seen here.

5c. Friends: Neighboring Red Cross Chapters and other community organizations, such as the YMCA, also provide Red Cross certifications in first aid and CPR. See our "Friends" list for contact information.

5d. Instructor's Corner: There is now a button on the Health & Safety page of this Web just for H&S instructors. It featured detailed directions on how to email class records and to order class supplies.

For additional information and to register, call the Chapter's Health & Safety office, 814/237-3162.
 

5e. First aid kits: We have basic kits and publications for sale at the Chapter office in State College. More can now be seen and purchased through the American Red Cross on-line store.
 

For much more information on what the American Red Cross does for us every day, click on the Red Cross symbol to open the American Red Cross national Web site. 

Your Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross is served by the Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross Blood Services Division. For Blood Services news, check out Greater Alleghenies.

The Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross is a participating agency of the Centre County United Way.

©2010 American Red Cross                                                
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