How Young People Can Help The Nation Heal

Since the terrorist attacks, thousands of young people around the country have personally expressed gratitude, sympathy and unity by wanting to get involved and give back to their community. To young and unable to help the traditional way, young people are asking, "What can I do?" The American Red Cross has opportunities available for you. Listed below are ways that young people can provide services in responses to a disaster. Please review and contact your local chapter to see how you can get involved.

Ways Young People Can Provide Service In Response to The Disaster

Take the lead in creating a family disaster plan
Help your family, neighbor or your fraternity or sorority create a disaster plan, with guidance provided by the American Red Cross. Information on creating a family disaster plan, such as what to do in an evacuation, how to create a disaster supply kit and information on practicing and maintaining the plan can be found at http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/beprepared/familyplan.html.

Provide community disaster education
Contact your local chapter and become trained in community disaster education. Young people of all ages can become active in making sure the members of their community know how to be prepared and how to stay safe in times of a disaster. For example, thousands of youth and young adult volunteers across the country have found activities such as creating door hangers with helpful information and making presentations to their peers and the elderly be just some of the ways to educate their community.

Sponsor or Volunteer at a blood drive
Sponsor or volunteer at a blood drive to help the American Red Cross maintain America's blood supply. Since the disaster, countless thousands of blood donors nationwide are donating record amounts of lifesaving blood to honor those that have suffered from the terrorist attacks and help those who need blood. Together with the Red Cross, these blood heroes are ensuring that the safest possible blood is readily available whenever and wherever needed - for the military, for other blood centers in America and for all 5,000 of America's hospitals.

Reach out to senior citizens and other vulnerable populations
The recent events have made many Americans fearful. As always, young people can be a tremendous support to those who are lonely and isolated. Red Cross young people can sing, perform a skit and/or visit with senior citizens or other persons in need of reassurance and hope. Intergenerational programs and activities have proven to be mutually beneficial to both the young people and the elderly and should provide opportunities for particularly meaningful service at this time.

Volunteer at your local chapter
The American Red Cross helps people expect the unexpected. This recent tragedy has illustrated to everyone the importance of being prepared. Young people can assist their local unit - be it a station, blood services region or chapter - in becoming prepared to meet the challenges of the days and weeks ahead. Young people can help by volunteering to inventory and organize disaster supplies, maintain mailing lists, and assemble shelter kits and comfort kits and more.

Fundraising Ideas

Serve-a-thons (pledges for hours of service provided) Car washes Walk-or Bike-a-thons Bake sales Rummage sales Raffles Auctions Gift Basket Sale Hold a flower or plant sale Ask a local business or service club to sponsor your youth event Check with your local Red Cross unit for other fundraising ideas!!!!

Have a fundraiser
In this disaster, as with others, one of the best ways the public can support the Red Cross is to send a financial contribution. The funds raised in the aftermath of this disaster are fueling the following major service categories:

• Providing interim relief of human suffering caused by the attacks.
• Fulfilling the American Red Cross responsibility to assure and available supply of blood, so that we are prepared in this period of uncertainty.
• Supporting America's mourning and healing through a national system for compassionate and individually responsive grief counseling and spiritual care such as outlet and outreach programs in all chapters to the community.
• Reaffirming and promoting the fundamental humanitarian principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.
• Preparing for and implementing next steps in the event of another attack or U.S. military action.

Collaborate with you local unit to plan your fundraising activity.

To get involved, contact your local chapter. To locate the chapter nearest you, click here and type in your zip code. The American Red Cross and you, Together, we can save a life.