Highlights

Yesterday, we participated in one of the oldest and largest Juneteenth events in the country. Milwaukee’s parade and festival were attended by thousands. We distributed 50 pounds of candy, a lot of stress balls, and as much good will as we could during the parade. We encountered people whom we have served directly and let a community know that we are there for them.

At the festival, we distributed over a thousand bottles of water, gave away all the prizes we had, signed up people for smoke alarm installations and will make at least 35 homes safer. We also made contact with 24 prosepctive volunteers.

Thank you to all who supported the event with special thanks to Rod Parsons for his coordination and leadership, Federico Materazzi for staffing the ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle), and Tim Lavin for Logistics support. There were many others who volunteered their time and effort to make the day happen. Thanls for being a great team!

Today, we participated in an exercise at Bristol Rennaisance Faire where we were participants at the EOC (Emergency Operations Center) practicing our response to a mass casualty incident. With our partners, we would provide a temporary assistance center moving towards a longer term family and friends assistance center. We would also be assissing needs for other services such as mass care feeding and sheltering.

The morning started with the words ***THIS IS AN EXERCISE***. With that notice, Red Cross volunteers and staff reported to Mitchell International Aiirport to participate in a full-scale exercise where we set up a reception center for friends, family, and people involved in the incident. A real world incident diverted half the team. Those who remained completed the exercise.

Thank you to all who assisted in preparation work for Sound the Alarm this evening after the DAT Briefing. Sound the Alarm will be installing free smoke alarms in hundreds of homes on Saturday. In the photo are Tim Lavin, Shana Beal, Dave Flowers, Debbie Urbanek, and Erin Vits. Also present were Grtechen Simonsen, Warren Simonsen, nancy Schermer, and Andrew Luke.

From Frederick Douglass to Gwen T. Jackson, we build on the proud legacy of those who have played important roles in the Red Cross movement. We honor these leaders and visionaries not only during the month of February, but always.

Thank you for you time and effort as a Disaster Action Team Volunteer. Our vital work would not be possible without the help of our dedicated volunteers. If you know anyone who wants to use their time and talents to make a meaningful difference in people’s lives, ask them to sign up to become Red Cross volunteer at https://redcross.org.

Gwen T. Jackson played a pivotal role not only locally with the American Red Cross and in the Milwaukee community, but also at the national level. Among the many honors bestowed upon her was the naming of Gwen T Jackson Early Childhood and Elemetnary School at 2121 W. Hadley Street in Milwaukee.

Happy Grounhog Day 2022! Punxsutawney Phil predicts six more weeks of winter – a long and lustrous winter. It will never be bereft of hope as long as Red Cross volunteers and staff are there to offer hope and compassion.