Mayor & Council proclaimed March as American Red Cross Month.
Dr. Rodric Bowman, New Jersey’s Regional Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross was present to accept the award on behalf of the organization. Dr. Bowman, a Roselle Park resident had also served up until last year on the Roselle Park Board Of Education.
While accepting the proclamation, Dr. Bowman relayed some of the services accomplished by the American Red Cross in New Jersey last year. He stated, “We responded to over 800 local community disasters and we assisted over 2,000 individuals who were displaced by fire with much-needed family assistance. We’ve also collected, in 2017, over 90,000 units of blood through community blood drives and our donation centers.We’ve also trained over 113,000 individuals in life-saving skills from CPR, first-aid, aquatics, and AED use. And finally, we’ve stood by our veterans through our Service To Armed Forces program and we’ve helped over 4,000 military families with much need emergency assistance in 2017.”
For over 136 years, the humanitarian organization has provided relief and support to those in crisis and has prepared people to respond to emergencies through its volunteers, staff, and services. It is part of a worldwide network of Red Cross agencies that serve close to 200 countries
“On behalf of myself, the region, and our regional executive, Ana Montero, who’s actually deployed to Puerto Rico helping with Hurricane Maria recovery efforts at this time, we thank you for this proclamation. It’s very much appreciated,” said Dr. Bowman to those in attendance at the March 1st meeting.
Below is the text of the proclamation:
WHEREAS, the American Red Cross saw a record-breaking year in 2017 of challenging domestic and international response efforts. Through the support of its volunteers, in just 45 days, the Red Cross responded to six of the largest and most complex disasters of 2017 including back-to-back hurricanes, the deadliest week of wildfires in California history, and the horrific mass shooting in Las Vegas. In addition, the Red Cross responded to nearly 50,000 home fires in 2017, providing casework assistance to help 76,000 recover; and,
WHEREAS in New Jersey, the Red Cross has a long history of helping our neighbors in need. The American Red Cross New Jersey Region responded to more than 820 local disasters last year, assisting nearly 1,900 New Jersey families who were displaced by home fires. They installed 10,600 free smoke alarms and reached thousands with fire safety information through the Home Fire Campaign. In New Jersey, the Red Cross provides an average of 4,000 military family case services every year and collects an average of 90,000 units of blood from our generous blood donors; and,
WHEREAS, March is American Red Cross Month, a special time to recognize and thank the Red Cross volunteers and donors who give of their time and resources to help members of the community. The Red Cross depends on these local heroes to deliver help and hope during a disaster. We applaud our heroes here in New Jersey who give of themselves to assist their neighbors when they need a helping hand; and,
WHEREAS, across the country and around the world, the American Red Cross responds to disasters big and small. It collects about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply; provides 24-hour support to military members, veterans and their families; teaches millions lifesaving skills such as lifeguarding and CPR; and through its Restoring Family Links program, connects family members separated by crisis, conflict or migration; and,
WHEREAS, we dedicate the month of March to all those who support the American Red Cross mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Our community depends on the American Red Cross, which relies on donations fo time, money and blood to fulfill its humanitarian mission.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT PROCLAIMED, that I, Carl A. Hokanson, Mayor of the Borough of Roselle Park, in the County of Union, in the State of New Jersey, do hereby proclaim March 2018 as American Red Cross Month in the Borough of Roselle Park and encourage all Americans to support this organization and its noble humanitarian mission.