March is Red Cross Month, and the American Red Cross is asking everyone in Aroostook County to join them in helping their neighbors in need. County residents can volunteer their time, make a donation, take a class that can help save lives, or give blood.
“When someone provides a hot meal to a disaster victim, gives blood, takes a first aid class, or helps a military family, they join the Red Cross,” said Joyce Knorr, manager of the Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter, the local Red Cross office that serves every county community. “We want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone who supports us. Their support helps us provide help and hope to children, adults, and families who need our assistance.”
For nearly 100 years, U.S. presidents have called on people to support the American Red Cross and its humanitarian mission. Franklin Roosevelt first proclaimed March as Red Cross Month in 1943. Since then, and including President Obama’s proclamation, every president has designated the month spring arrives as Red Cross Month.
Ann Marie Perier, advisory board chairwoman of the Aroostook County Branch of the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter, left, and Penny Kern, Red Cross safety training coordinator, were on hand during the March 11 open house at the new Red Cross office at 7 Hatch Drive, Suite 250 in Caribou (behind the Dollar Store). According to Joyce Knorr, Branch manager, “[With the bigger facility] there is space for volunteer training, health and safety classes, and a phone system that allows us to stay in touch with our disaster response volunteers and respond quickly to military families in need of assistance when emergencies strike.”
The Red Cross has been helping people for 130 years, and the Pine Tree Chapter has been helping county people for more than 100 years. That help includes responding to disasters, helping members of the military, teaching health and safety skills, and serving as one of the nation’s largest blood suppliers.
The Aroostook County Branch of the Pine Tree Chapter responded and helped victims of nearly 50 local disasters last year, processed dozens of emergency military calls, and trained hundreds of people in first aid, CPR and water safety skills. Its sister agency collected hundreds of units of blood from county residents.
“We work very hard to help people in need,” said Knorr. “Whether out on a disaster response call, helping firefighters in the cold, in a first aid class, or working with a military family, our valuable volunteers touch the lives of thousands of people in northern and eastern Maine every year.”
“All local Red Cross services in The County are a gift from neighbors and friends,” Knorr said. “We hope everyone will take some time to remember that we are here every day to respond when local disasters or emergencies strike, and to help people prepare and plan for them.”
To find out more about Red Cross Month activities in Aroostook County, call the Pine Tree Chapter’s Caribou office at 493-4620 (ext. 108).
PRESQUE ISLE — The 13th annual Real Heroes Breakfast, sponsored by the Aroostook County Branch of the American Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter, will be held Thursday, April 7 at Northern Maine Community College in Presque Isle.
At the breakfast, which begins at 7:30 a.m. at the Edmunds Conference Center on the NMCC campus, six Real Heroes awards will be presented to county people and two Extra Mile awards to a county business and non-profit organization. The event is co-presented by the Pine Tree Chapter, NMCC, WAGM-TV and NMCC.
“The concept for the Real Heroes Breakfast has grown out of a desire to develop an event that is closely related to the mission of the American Red Cross — teaching people how to save lives,” said Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County Branch manager. “The Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
“This is done through the simple, yet powerful process of one person putting their needs aside to help other people,” she said. “What better way to celebrate this spirit of humanitarianism than by honoring those individuals who have shown courage, kindness, and unselfish character by their act of heroism in Aroostook County?”
One of the major non-profit events of the year, the Real Heroes Breakfast is made possible by the support of more than three dozen generous sponsors including KeyBank, Maine Public Service, TD Bank, Duncan Graves Funeral Home, Katahdin Trust Co., Aroostook Centre Mall, Cary Medical Center and Pines Health Services. Their representatives, and individual ticket buyers, together raise nearly $15,000 so that Pine Tree Chapter services can be provided for residents of every town, city, and plantation in Aroostook County.
“People attending this year’s Real Heroes Breakfast can expect to go through a lot of emotions,” said Knorr. “Every year there is laughter and tears, joy at the actions of these very special people and organizations, and pride at what county people do to help their neighbors and friends.”
This year’s Real Heroes will receive the Red Spirit Award, Neighborhood Friend Award, Every Day Helping Hand Award, Valor Award, Clara Barton Award and Young Courage Award.
For more information about the April 7 Real Heroes Breakfast, and to buy tickets while they last, e-mail Knorr at knorrj@pinetree.redcross.org or call the Aroostook County Branch at 493-4620 (ext. 108) in Caribou.
Nearly two months ago, the tragic shooting of Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson reminded us all of the importance of being prepared for an emergency. Many of the bystanders knew CPR and first aid and were able to save the lives of several victims, including Giffords. With support from the Congresswoman’s office, the American Red Cross has agreed to host a nationwide “Save-a-Life Saturday” in her honor Saturday, March 19.
The Aroostook County Branch-Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering free instruction in CPR, treatment of shock, and bleeding compression. The classes will be shortened versions of Red Cross training courses, lasting approximately 30 to 45 minutes, and will be offered multiple times during the day in three Aroostook County locations of The County.
Trainings will be held at the following locations and times on March 19:
• At the Community Living Association-Career Training Center, 2 North St. in Houlton, the free training sessions are at 10 a.m., 11 a.m. and noon.
• At the Aroostook Centre Mall (next to the Kmart entrance) in Presque Isle, sessions start at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 7 p.m.
• There will be training sessions at 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. at the University of Maine at Fort Kent Sports Center.
“‘Save-a-Life Saturday’ is a special opportunity to educate everyone about the work of the Red Cross and the need for this life-saving training. At least one person in every household should have these skills,” said Joyce Knorr, Aroostook County Branch manager. “We are so thankful to our local Red Cross certified instructors for taking time from their busy schedules to offer free training to community members who want to learn skills that can help save lives.”
Space in the classes is limited. To register, e-mail knorrj@pinetree.redcross.org or call 493-4620 (ext. 108) by Friday, March 18.
BLOOD DRIVES such as this one held at Presque Isle High School are an important part of the American Red Cross. Red Cross Blood Services of Northern New England is the sister agency that collects, processes and distributes blood and blood products. According to people at Blood Services, there is a severe shortage of life-giving blood in Maine right now. Becoming a blood donor is easy: call 1-800-REDCROSS or (207) 941-2900 in Bangor, or go online to www.redcrossblood.org to find out the nearest blood donation location, date and time, and make an appointment. Whole blood donors at least 17 years old can donate whole blood every eight weeks, platelets every seven days, plasma every four weeks, or double red cells (in Bangor) every 16 weeks. All eligibility requirements can also be checked online.
