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.