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Partners in Service

Red Cross Causes, Campaigns and Courses for Delta Sigma Theta Members

Overview

The American Red Cross is proud of the support we receive from the members of Delta Sigma Theta. Although our formal partnership began in 2014, our organizations have served side by side for many years. Delta Emergency Response Teams help the Red Cross provide care and comfort to those affected by disaster, while other Delta members bring the important message of disaster preparation to children through the Pillowcase Project, and so much more.

Here are some ways Delta Sigma Theta and the Red Cross can join forces to improve our communities. If your region or chapter would like to get involved, we invite you to follow the links provided in each section. Our dedicated partnership managers will be delighted to hear from you.

Help Reduce Deaths & Injuries from Home Fires

Studies show that African American, Native American and Latino communities are the leading at-risk communities for accidental home fires. The Red Cross Home Fire Campaign aims to reduce death and injury from home fire by 25% by 2020. To date, more than 330 lives have been saved, but we still have far to go.
How Delta Members Can Get Involved
We invite Delta members to help us Sound the Alarm about home fire safety and save lives! Your group can participate in smoke detector installation and education activities in a local community. The Red Cross will provide marketing materials to help you recruit volunteers. Contact us using the link below to get started.

SOUND THE ALARM
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Individual Action

Did you know that if a fire starts in your home you may have as little as two minutes to escape? Test your fire safety savvy, then get prevention and preparation tips and make and practice your escape plan

Encourage Blood Donations by Your Members

More than 2 million people receive Red Cross blood transfusions each year. Some of them require a closer blood match than that provided by the basic ABO positive/negative blood typing that we’re most familiar with. For example, if the donor and recipient are from the same ethnic background the chance of certain negative reactions to the transfusion may be reduced. This can be especially important to patients with sickle cell disease who rely on frequent blood transfusions. Since most sickle cell patients are of African descent, blood donation from African-Americans will typically provide their best match.
How Delta Members Can Get Involved
Your chapter can host a blood drive, with members helping to recruit donors, volunteering to help the day of the drive run smoothly, and making donations themselves. Our team will support you with marketing materials and tips for organizing your volunteers and motivating your donors.

HOST BLOOD DRIVES
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Individual Action

Your blood donation is always welcome. One donation can help save up to three lives! Schedule your donation at RedCrossBlood.org

Teach Children About Disaster Preparedness

The Pillowcase Project, sponsored by Disney, is a preparedness education program for grades 3 – 5 that teaches students about personal and family preparedness and safety skills, local hazards, and basic coping skills. Volunteer trainers lead students through a “learn, practice, share” framework to engage them in disaster preparedness and survival skills. Upon completion, students receive a sturdy pillowcase in which to build their personal emergency supplies kit – carrying what they’ve learned back home to keep spreading the knowledge.
Red Cross teams were invited to the 52nd and 53rd Delta Sigma Theta National Conventions to provide Pillowcase Project presenter training to attendees. After completing their training, Deltas teamed up with Red Crossers to work with children at a Houston-area elementary school and a Boys & Girls Club in Las Vegas. Many of these trainees returned home to give Pillowcase Project presentations in their local communities.

How Delta Members Can Get Involved
The Red Cross hopes to continue providing training during future Regional Conferences and National Conventions but there’s no need to wait that long. We will be happy to connect you with your local Pillowcase Project program manager who can help your members sign up as Red Cross volunteers, receive the necessary training, and identify high-risk communities in which to give presentations.

GET INVOLVED
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Individual Action

Are you an elementary educator or the parent of an elementary-aged child? Learn about the Pillowcase Project and request a presentation for your school

Promote Swimming Skills and Water Safety

Drowning is a leading cause of death for children in the United States and African-American children are disproportionately affected. Research shows 64% of African-American children have little to no swimming ability – and of these children, 78% have parents who have no/low swimming ability. For these families a carefree day at the beach, pool or lake can too easily end in tragedy.

That’s why it’s so important that we all learn how to be safe in and around water, and encourage our families, friends and neighbors to be water competent. The Red Cross is tackling this goal with our Centennial Campaign, marking our first 100 years of swimming safety education. We are working with our training partners to teach 50,000 more people in 50 at-risk cities how to swim, and urging people in every community to make sure that they and their families can swim.

How Delta Members Can Get Involved
We invite Delta chapters to help us encourage children and adults in your local communities to learn how to swim and be safe in and around water. Contact us for ideas and download our social media toolkit below.

CONTACT US

DOWNLOAD TOOLKIT
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Individual Action

Check your family’s water competency by watching this video. Can you say “yes” to all 5 skills? If not, sign up for a Red Cross swimming or water safety course

Learn Lifesaving Skills

Health emergencies can happen to any of us, at any time. Knowing how to provide first aid, CPR, or operate an AED buys precious minutes until the first responders can arrive. The Red Cross offers training in these and other lifesaving skills, enabling each of us to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.
How Delta Members Can Get Involved
The Red Cross can provide group training. Our training and certification opportunities are available nationwide to reach your extensive membership.

For information, please call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
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Individual Action

We offer a wide range of courses online, in-person and in between. Sign up to learn a lifesaving skill like First Aid, CPR or AED today

Volunteer with Your Local Red Cross

90% of the work of the Red Cross is done by volunteers. Delta's commitment to community service programs means your members are ideally suited to engage in the Red Cross mission through volunteering. Their specific skills, unique talents and valuable time can help us build community resiliency and save lives. Our local chapters all offer a wide variety of volunteer activities that touch all aspects of Red Cross service, from emergency preparedness education and disaster relief to blood drives and helping military families. All necessary training will be provided by your local Red Cross chapter.
How Delta Members Can Get Involved
Your members can volunteer as a group, because there’s strength in numbers. We’ll connect you with a Volunteer Services representative at your local Red Cross office who can create an opportunity that will benefit the community – and be a fulfilling experience for your members.

VOLUTEER AS A GROUP
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Individual Action

Individual volunteers are always welcome, too. Explore local volunteer opportunities

Other Ways to Get Involved

The Red Cross has a wide range of engagement opportunities that Delta members may find interesting. Here are a few additional ideas you can share with them.

Take the 3 steps to becoming Red Cross Ready: get an emergency kit, make a plan and be informed. Learn how to prepare for natural disasters and other emergencies – and download our FREE Emergency app so that information is always at your fingertips.
The American Red Cross is a founder of the Missing Maps initiative in which volunteers around the world fill in the gaps that can hinder emergency relief efforts in remote and developing areas. Anyone with a computer and internet connection can help! Join the Missing Maps initiative.
As a volunteer for the Red Cross you can help people living overseas who have been displaced by war or disaster reconnect with family members living in your community. These volunteer opportunities are arranged through your local Red Cross.
Since our founding, the American Red Cross has provided aid and comfort to America’s military members, veterans and families. Volunteers are needed in local communities and at veteran’s hospitals and military installations worldwide. To learn more, visit our Volunteer Opportunity Finder and select “Services for Military and Veteran Community ”.
Consider a career with the American Red Cross – the historic organization that works every day to prevent and alleviate human suffering. With more than 23,000 employees, we are a diverse network of men and women committed to changing the world, one community at a time. Learn about Red Cross culture and career opportunities.

Share Your Success Stories

We’d love to hear about the volunteer work your chapter does with the Red Cross. Use this form to tell us all about it (and upload photos, too)!

SUBMIT YOUR STORY