LOS ANGELES, Sept. 30, 2019 — The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region launched its Faith Based Affiliate Program at the Movers & Shakers Resiliency Luncheon this past Wednesday, Sept. 25. The Red Cross LA Region commits resources to turn compassion into action in times of need by bringing preparedness programs and services to all faith-based communities.
SEE: Photos from the Red Cross Movers and Shakers Resiliency Luncheon (Flickr)
“After disasters, communities often turn to houses of worship for assistance, and with this understanding the Red Cross is determined to build strong relationships with communities of faith to make sure that if, and when, there is a need, assistance will be there,” said Jennifer Johnson, Director of the Faith Based & Community Programs for the Red Cross Los Angeles Region.
The Faith Based Affiliate Program provides LA organizations and houses of worship the opportunity to become Affiliates – opening the door to resources that build resiliency. The Faith Affiliates represent the rich diversity of Los Angeles with organizations from Baha’i, Buddhist, Christian, Muslim and non-denominational beliefs.
The program’s services include disaster preparedness education, community outreach booths for events and adult first aid/CPR certification at a reduced price for low-moderate income communities. The program also gives affiliates the opportunity to host blood drives and participate in Sound the Alarm events, bringing home fire safety and free smoke alarm installations to their community.
The Wednesday afternoon event hosted at the Evergreen Baptist Church was attended by more than 30 faith leaders from several faith traditions. Guest speaker Margaret Vinci, Manager of the Office of Earthquake Programs at California Institute of Technology, shared tips on earthquake preparedness, and Curtis Hsing from the Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation encouraged the importance of faith groups taking action. The Red Cross and the Tzu Chi USA signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreement renewal earlier this year, combining the two parties’ strengths in disaster relief efforts, as well as disaster preparedness.
“It’s really a beautiful thing to see a room full of diverse faith leaders. Together, we are on the right path to disaster preparedness,” , Executive Director of the American Red Cross San Gabriel Pomona Valley Chapter. “The path to preparing our own organizations, our homes and our members with opportunities that we can bring to your door and share with you. Those resources and opportunities are preparedness education courses; they are CPR and first aid training; they are education on how to save a life through blood donations and our Home Fire Campaign.”
To learn more about the Faith Based Affiliate programs and services email faithbasedla@redcross.org.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/la or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.