Red Cross Clubs Start Strong This School Year

Newton High School Red Cross Club Officers/Members
L-R Back Row: Anthony Gunst, Max Deirmenjian, Gabriella Cirasella
L-R Front Row: Julianne Loveland, Sophie Kauderer, Maryellen Carrigan

SCCC’s new Red Cross Campus Club Officers
Back: Josh Mones, President
Front: Kristin Wilton, Vice President and Jessica Takacs, Secretary
Not pictured: Danielle Jones, Treasurer

Newton, NJ, October 28, 2009 – Several members of Newton High School’s very active Red Cross Club continued their support of the American Red Cross from the end of last school year right into this fall. Over the summer many club members could be found at local daycare centers and camps presenting Red Cross programs such as Scrubby Bear (a hand washing program that engages young children in songs and motion in how to properly wash their hands to help avoid illness as well as WHALE Tales, a water safety program. Club members also participated in Children’s Day at the Fair in August, helped at chapter blood drives, hosted a bake sale fundraiser at the ShopRite of Newton and even attended Project Self Sufficiency’s “Back to School Fair”, among other activities.

In September club members participated in a hospital drill at the Sussex Campus of Saint Clare’s Hospital. This successful drill was designed to test the hospital’s emergency room capacity in the event of a natural disaster in the area. The club continues with their service learning projects and they recently put together Halloween “ghoulie bags” of sweet treats and Red Cross Safety Tips that were given to several local pre-schools. The safety tips were provided to help ensure a safe trick-or-treating experience. The club is also conducting a school wide food drive and has asked several of the other clubs at school to consider joining their efforts.

Sussex County Community College saw the value in having a Red Cross Club on Campus and this semester that club is getting underway! They have also assembled “ghoulie bags” and are conducting a food drive this week (ending Nov 2) both on campus and at some off campus locations. Food donations from both drives will be donated to local food pantries.

Red Cross clubs are a team effort, with the Red Cross Chapter, the sponsoring organization (either a school or a community-based organization) and students all working together, enabling young people to make their community and the world a better place while developing leadership skills for today and the future. Clubs may encompass activities from all lines of service Red Cross services including Disaster Services, Health & Safety Services, International Services, Service to the Armed Forces and Blood Services. To find out more about Red Cross Clubs contact Lauri Gill, Youth Services Coordinator, by phone at 973-579-1600, or by email at lgill@sussexredcross.org.

The American Red Cross is a non-profit organization that shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The American Red Cross is a charity, not a government agency, and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For additional information visit www.sussexredcross.org.