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 University Park (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

Your Centre Communities Chapter of the American Red Cross will again be participating in the Alternative Christmas Fair which will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2009, from 11:00 am to 2:00 pm in the basement of University Baptist and Brethren Church located at 411 S. Burrowes St., State College, PA.  The Alternative Christmas Fair provides holiday shoppers with an alternate means of giving by supporting any of 20 local, national or international charities in honor of family and friends.  Donations are made to charities of choice in the form of a gift to friends or family members and attractive gift cards are provided.  It’s a convenient way to give a thoughtful gift to those hard-to-shop-for people on your holiday list or simply a way to make holiday giving more meaningful.  A homemade soup/BBQ luncheon is available during the Fair and baked goods may be purchased as well.  There is a Children's Festival and Alternative Store that will run from 11:00 am to 1:30 pm. 

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. The 2009 Penn State –Michigan State Blood Donor Challenge has begun. This friendly competition between the two schools allows both the Great Lakes Region and the Greater Alleghenies Region of the American Red Cross to bolster blood inventories right before the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Penn State has won the last three four years breaking the 2,000 unit mark two three years in a row.
The score as of November 19:

2. Looking Out For Each Other, Your Chapter at Work
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 $446,000 (all of which we raise locally). We are not a government-funded organization, nor are we funded by our own national headquarters.

Speaking of your Chapter at work, we thought you might be interested in the day-to-day happenings here. The Centre Daily Times is providing "blog" space for anyone with something useful to say and we have jumped right in. The Chapter blog is called "Paint the Town Red" and will appear two or three times a week. Check us out by clicking here.

 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.
 

5a.First Aid, CPR and Other 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: This is the  Red Cross version of Web-based education. Blended Learning, i.e., part online, part classroom, courses are now being offered in all of the basic Health & Safety courses. After successful completion of the online components, finish up with abbreviated classroom session of skills demonstration. The Blended Learning schedule 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: New! 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.

©2009 American Red Cross                                                
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