Thanks for the support

Hey fellow Red Crossers,

Thanks to all who supported the American Red Cross through Target's Bullseye Gives Facebook campaign. More than 75,000 votes were cast for the Red Cross, which earned our organization a share of $793,942. Nine other non-profits competed for a piece of Target's $3 million donation. Your Red Cross will use this donation to change lives around the country and around the world.

Learn how be prepared, and how to respond to a hurricane watch or warning

June through August is the hurricane season. Therefore, the American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay recommends that the community become familiar with hurricane watch and warning messages and plan ahead to reduce the chances of injury or major property damage. A hurricane watch is issued when weather conditions are favorable for a hurricane to impact a specific geographic area within 36 hours. A warning is issued when hurricane conditions are expected within 24 hours or less.

• To know what to do during a hurricane WATCH, click here.
• To know what to do during a hurricane WARNING, click here.

If you are interested in becoming a volunteer to help in the Disaster Team, click here.

Two Weeks of Humanitarianism stories

Another story of kindness was selected to be published to our blog. Justina, from Boston Latin School, donated blood during the school's blood drive event for the Red Cross. Her act of kindness made her realize that this simple act could save lives: "With my one pack of blood I should be able to save about 3 lives", she wrote.

To donate blood, click here.

The Two Weeks of Humanitarianism event ends tomorrow! To send your story of kindness, click here.

Help the American Red Cross win up to $3 million

Target has a $3 million pot of money they’ll be distributing to 10 charities and the American Red Cross is among them. The more votes we get on facebook, the bigger the percentage of $3 million we receive. You can vote one time every single day through May 25.

Your action items:

1. Go to http://www.facebook.com/target
2. Vote for Red Cross
3. Share the contest with all your friends and make sure they vote for the Red Cross
4. Remind everyone you know to do this once a day through May 25
5. Accept our thanks!

Best Buy @ 15 Contest: help Red Cross win up to $250,000

Best Buy is distributing $250,000 between four youth oriented charities featured on www.at15.com. From May through July, the American Red Cross youth programs are being featured as one of these four charities and you can help us win!

Anyone between 13 and 18 years old can register and become a member at www.at15.com. As a @15 member, you will be able to earn points by completing activities on the website and then donate these points to the Red Cross. The more points you accumulate and donate, the more American Red Cross youth programs win! All money earned for the Red Cross will return to local communities through Red Cross school clubs programs and initiatives.

* Sign up on www.at15.com right now and you will automatically receive 1500 points just for registering.

* Start doing activities, accumulate points and make sure to donate them to American Red Cross Youth!

Two Weeks of Humanitarianism stories

Another cool story of kindness was selected to be published to our blog. Cindy, from Boston Latin School, volunteered at the Kidney Walk at Franklin Park Zoo. "I greeted people who were doing the walk and passed out lunch. It was really fun, and I got to see many animals at the zoo! Volunteering at this fundraiser really inspired me to want to help out others more. Next year, I definitely want to walk and raise money for people with kidney diseases!", she wrote.

UNO Dough Raiser for Red Cross

Celebrate Memorial Day at any UNO Chicago Grill in Massachusetts and help the American Red Cross!

If you eat at UNO's on May 23rd and 24th, 20% of your bill can be donated to American Red Cross of Mass Bay. Click here and print out this certificate and show it at the time of payment to donate part of your bill to us.

Two Weeks of Humanitarianism stories

Jeannie's story of kindness about teaching kids in China was selected to be published in the Two Weeks of Humanitarianism Competition in our blog: “Last summer, I studied abroad in China and while learning Chinese I, along with other American students, volunteered to teach English to migrant children in an elementary school.
I love seeing children happy and having fun while learning.” she wrote. She is from Boston Latin School and this act of kindness also made her happy.

For more kindness stories, click here.

First Aid Skills Can Help Save a Life –Your Pet’s!

Knowing what to do when your pet is choking or injured can be critical to save your pet's life. Thanks to the Red Cross, pet owners can equip themselves with first aid skills.

American Red Cross Pet First Aid classes give pet owners the confidence and skills necessary to tend to unexpected emergencies until they can get their pet to a veterinarian. The American Red Cross of Mass Bay offer classes with hands-on training in Pet First Aid procedures. The Pet First Aid class combines lecture, discussion, video and skill practice to provide participants with the knowledge and skills they need to provide care to their cat or dog in an emergency. Participants will receive either the Cat First Aid book and DVD set or the Dog First Aid book and DVD set, the Pets & Disasters: Be Prepared brochure and several worksheets.

For more information and registration, click here.

Two Weeks of Humanitarianism stories

Andrea So’s story of kindness toward the elderly was selected to be published in the Two Weeks of Humanitarianism Competition in our blog: “I volunteered to teach a group of mostly elderly people the methods and benefits of proper breathing and exercise,” she wrote. She is from Malden High School and the positive impact of her act of kindness is to promote a healthy life style.

For more kindness stories, click here.

Summer Job

Are you 15 or older and looking for a great summer job? Lifeguarding puts you in an exciting position, working as part of a team to help people safely enjoy the water. The American Red Cross offers lifeguard training that educates candidates on the skills and knowledge needed to prevent and respond to aquatic emergencies.

Click here for more information about the course, the schedule and prices.

Boston celebrates 150 years of International Red Cross

Surprisingly, this weekend, Bostonians and people from all over the world were walking around Boston and Cambridge wearing the American Red Cross pin as a form of celebration. This simple act show their explicit support for the Red Cross and the influence of the institution as an international reference.

We celebrate International Red Cross today!

Today, the Red Cross societies from all around the globe celebrate the birth of the International Red Cross and the founder Henry Dunant. Motivated by his experiences during the Battle of Solferino in 1859, Henry Dunant began to advocate for the humane treatment of the sick and wounded during wartime. Now, the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement is comprised of more than 97 million staff, volunteers and members and assists more than 277 million people worldwide.

The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay is a part of that global movement and works on connecting and reuniting families with loved ones locally through International Social Services. To know more the American Red Cross of Mass and how you can get involved, visit our website www.bostonredcross.org.

Perform and report random acts of kindness to our chapter and win prizes!

Two Weeks of Humanitarism

From May 8 until May 21, the American Red Cross of Mass Bay promotes “Two Weeks of Humanitarism”. We encourage you residing in the 190 cities and towns in eastern Massachusetts to send your stories to be published on our website www.bostonredcross.org . The best story of the day is going to be posted here.

Each officially-posted submission will be entered into a raffle contest to win various prizes. Moreover, we will promote a Red Cross Youth Volunteer Recognition Event, in which raffles will be drawn for prizes and the most meaningful humanitarian act will receive an award. Exact location and date for this celebratory event will be determined.

To send your story, click here.

Last night, Joyce Hampers, owner of EMERGE Spa & Salon, and her talented team of award-winning professionals received guests to enjoy EMERGE for a very special evening filled with pampering and stylish surprises! From hair to make-up to fingertips, it was a fun and relaxing evening designed to express our sincere appreciation to American Red Cross of Mass Bay partners and friends. A fashionable treat was the informal modeling of the newest collection of designs by Boston's own Denise Hajjar.