The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City kicks off its second hundred years by announcing Laura Ingraham as the keynote speaker for its 17th Annual Genevieve Byrne speaker series to be held on Tuesday, October 18, 2016, at the downtown Kansas City Marriott. This is the marquee event for the local chapter, and will also honor local heroes in the community.

Ingraham is a nationally known radio talk show hostess, lawyer and former Supreme
Court law clerk to Justice Clarence Thomas. She is also a number one New York Times best-selling author of five books.

Local heroes will be honored for life saving efforts and service to those in need.

The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.

In the Western Missouri Region alone, last year the Red Cross responded to over 1,200 families in need of disaster relief, supplied thousands of smoke alarms in the region, trained more than 25,000 people in first aid CPR and AED training, served more than 1,000 armed forces families, and obtained more than 25,000 blood donations. Proceeds benefit the programs and services of the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City.

This year’s Byrne event is being chaired by Scott and Patty Mach and Tom and Ellen Cray.

Information can be found at www.redcross.org/ARCKC_SpeakerSeries.

 

During National Sickle Cell Awareness Month, the American Red Cross urges eligible donors to give blood to help ensure a stable and diverse blood supply for patients in need – and there are several opportunities in the Kansas City area and northwest Missouri.

A diverse blood supply is important to ensure the needs of all patients are met. Red blood cells carry markers that determine one’s blood type, and some blood types are unique to certain racial and ethnic groups. Because blood from donors of the same ethnic background as the recipient is less likely to cause complications, the Red Cross must maintain a diverse blood supply to meet these diverse patient needs.

Whether blood is needed for a chronic condition such as sickle cell disease, a surgical procedure or a large-scale emergency, it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives. Donors of all blood types are needed.

To make an appointment to give blood, download the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors are encouraged to make appointments and complete the RapidPass online health history questionnaire at redcrossblood.org/rapidpass to help reduce wait times.

Those who come out to give blood or platelets through Sept. 30 will receive a free haircut coupon via email, courtesy of Sport Clips Haircuts. The coupon is valid through Nov. 6, at participating Sport Clips locations, and donors must have a valid email address on record to receive the coupon.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities:

 

KANSAS

Leavenworth

Sept. 17, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: VFW Post 56, 523 Cherokee St.Sept. 26, 10 a.m-2 p.m.:  Fairfield Inn & Suites, 1101 N. 4^th  St.

Lenexa

Sept. 20, 9 a.m.-2 p.m.: Lifetime Fitness, 16851 W. 90^th St.

Olathe

Sept. 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.: Premiere Global Services, 18103 W. 106^th St.Sept. 28, 2:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m.: Genesis Health Clubs, 13370 S. Blackfoot Dr.

Overland Park

Sept. 19, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.: Paul Mitchell the School Overland Park, 8731 W. 95^th  St.Sept. 22, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.: Lifetime Fitness OP, 6800 W. 138^th St.

 

MISSOURI

Kansas City

Sept. 16, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.: Hy Vee 64th Street, 5330 NW 64^th  St.

Riverside

Sept. 27, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.: Riverside Community Center, 4498 NW High Dr.

St. Joseph

Sept. 19, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.: YMCA, 3601 N. Village Dr.
Sept. 21, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.: Northwest American Red Cross Missouri Chapter, 401 N. 12th St.
Sept. 29, 2 p.m.-6 p.m.: Hy-Vee, 201 N. Belt Hwy.

To donate blood, download the American Red Cross Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to make an appointment or for more information. All blood types are needed to ensure a reliable supply for patients.

A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.

Blood donors can now save time at their next donation by using RapidPass to complete their pre-donation reading and health history questionnaire online, on the day of their donation, prior to arriving at the blood drive. To get started and learn more, visit redcrossblood.org/RapidPass and follow the instructions on the site.

One month after devastating and historic floodwaters destroyed entire neighborhoods in Louisiana, thousands of residents are still impacted and the American Red Cross is there, making sure people get the help they need.

The storm, which deluged Louisiana with nearly 7 trillion gallons of rain, is the worst natural disaster to hit the United States since Superstorm Sandy in 2012.

“Imagine yourself without shelter, clean clothes or even a toothbrush. Thousands of people in Louisiana faced just that when floodwaters overtook their homes,” said Gail McGovern, Red Cross President and CEO. “Our disaster volunteers immediately got to work, making sure affected individuals and families had a safe place to stay, food to eat and a shoulder to lean on. One month later, the Red Cross is still helping in Louisiana, thanks to the generous financial donations which have enabled us to provide comfort, support and hope to flood survivors.”

The massive Red Cross relief effort in Louisiana could cost at least $35-$40 million, as volunteers remain on the ground to help in the difficult weeks ahead as residents recover from the devastation, and the Red Cross will be there until the job is done.

In the past month, more than 4,200 Red Crossers from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico traveled to Louisiana, where they have worked around the clock to help people affected by the flooding. Over 90 percent of these trained disaster workers are volunteers and more than 30 came from the Red Cross Western Missouri Region.

As of September 9, the Red Cross and partners have:

• Served 1,050,000 meals and snacks in Louisiana
• Provided more than 73,000 overnight stays in emergency shelters. Shelters remain open and 850 people spent Thursday night in nine Red Cross and community shelters.
• Distributed more than 683,000 relief items.
• Handled more than 35,000 calls from people needing help.
• Provided more than 35,000 health services and emotional support contacts.

Red Cross workers are connecting people in Louisiana to the critical services and resources they need to recover, including limited financial assistance for those who qualify. Several thousand households have already registered for this help.

The Red Cross needs the public to join us in supporting Louisiana by making a financial donation today. People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word LAFLOODS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from these disasters.