Agency Details:

American Red Cross - Greater Rochester Chapter

A volunteer driven organization committed to preventing, preparing & responding to personal & community emergencies.

Description:
Ten Ways the Rochester Chapter Helps our Community

1. We make life safer for kids and families.
2. We help students get ready for the working world.
3. We build tomorrow´s leaders.
4. We cultivate volunteer spirit and collaboration.
5. We´ve expertly served blood donors for more than 50 years.
6. We deal with disaster head on.
7. We´re responsible stewards of your money.
8. We train you in life-saving skills.
9. We're committed to diversity initiatives.
10. We prepare the community for unexpected emergencies.
    
    

History:
American Red Cross Greater Rochester Chapter History -
120 Years of caring for the community!
On October 3, 1881, Rochester became the second Red Cross Chapter in the United States. Nearby Dansville, New York was the site of the first Red Cross Society- an organization which has grown to include 3,700 chapters nationwide.

Ceaseless humanitarian efforts of Clara Barton led to the foundation of the American Association of the Red Cross at her Washington, D.C. home in May of 1881. That same year, the Greater Rochester Chapter was formed primarily to provide aid to the victims of the Michigan Forest Fires. This relief operation was the first in national Red Cross history, and the Greater Rochester Chapter was a key participant.

The Greater Rochester Chapter kept itself prepared for future emergencies, and in 1917 when the United States entered World War I, the Red Cross was ready. The Chapter organized Base Hospital No. 19 and more than 89,000 volunteers in Rochester helped with the packing and shipping of war relief supplies. At the same time, the Greater Rochester branch of the American Junior Red Cross was founded. These young Red Crossers were active in knitting sweaters, making surgical dressings and bandages, and other tasks that helped our country through the war.
In 1918, the Greater Rochester Chapter of the Red Cross leapt into action during the Influenza Epidemic and provided food, transportation, nursing care, and housekeeping services for the sick in Rochester. The following year, the chapter established Home Nursing Classes in Monroe County Schools.

In the years to come, the Greater Rochester Chapter continued to expand its ability to provide assistance to those in need beyond disaster relief. Programs were set up to benefit a wide array of people. Programs include mental health counseling, health and safety instruction, nutrition services, and many more. Today the Greater Rochester Red Cross certifies about 50,000 people each year in life-saving programs such as CPR, Water Safety, and First Aid.

Contact people:

Bernadette Bowie, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email) Margaret Hauenstein, Volunteer Coordinator, (phone), (email)

Office fax number: (585) 241-4401

Address:

50 Prince Street Rochester, NY 14607 (See a map)

Web Site: http://www.RochesterRedCross.org

Directions:

The Greater Rochester Chapter is located near Our Lady of the Americas Church on East Main Street,behind the Auditorium Theatre at the corner of East Main Street and Prince Street and across the street from School for the Arts on. . . (more)   Nearest Bus Stop: East Main Street, 3 minutes minute walk

Last updated on October 22, 2009