MEDIA RELEASE

March is Red Cross Month, the perfect time for everyone to take part in the Red Cross mission of saving lives and giving hope to those in need.

Discover your inner hero during Red Cross Month in any or all of the following ways:

* Shop for a Cause

Now to March 11, shop ‘til you drop for a great cause! Bid on hotel stays in Bora Bora, London, Oahu and the neighbor islands as well as golf and entertainment packages, gas cards and restaurant gift certificates! The auction also has exclusive “Hawaii Five-0” packages including a set visit, an autographed Shane Victorino Boston Red Sox cap and koa vase hand-carved by the State Attorney General, David Louie up for auction! Proceeds of the online auction will go to the Hawaii Red Cross.

Show your support by going to redcross.org/hawaii to view items and make a bid.

* Take a class

The Red Cross offers many courses that teach life-saving skills such as adult and pediatric first aid and CPR, pet first aid, nurse aide training, babysitting training, wilderness training, and more! We now also offer blended online courses for those who are short on time.

Register at redcross.org/take-a-clas​s or call 1-800-733-2767.

* Get involved

Volunteer your time and effort to support the Red Cross mission of helping those in need. The Red Cross is always seeking office volunteers, disaster volunteers, CPR instructors, and even office workers.

Go to redcross.org/hawaii to register as a volunteer.

* Be Prepared

In Hawaii due to our isolation, we encourage all families to be prepared for 7 days. Create a disaster plan with your family and put together a disaster kit. You can also download Red Cross first aid, pet first aid, flood or hurricane mobile apps that provide instant life-saving information to you in times of emergency.

Download them for free (except pet first aid app, cost is $0.99) at redcross.org/prepare/mobile-apps

* Donate

The Red Cross is a non-profit humanitarian organization which provides assistance to meet the immediate emergency needs of those affected by disasters. All Red Cross assistance to disaster victims is free. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it depends on public contributions to help others. Your gift supports the lifesaving mission of the American Red Cross in your community, across the country and around the world.

To send a contribution, mail your check to: American Red Cross, Hawaii State Chapter, 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816 or make a secure online donation at redcross.org/hawaii or call: (808) 739-8109.

In 2014, the Hawaii Red Cross responded to 96 disaster incidents, assisted 152 families (469 individuals) with immediate emergency needs such as food, clothing and shelter, served 5,731 meals and snacks to victims of disasters and emergency workers in the field, housed 2,616 people during times of evacuation, and presented disaster preparedness information to 22,001 people.

The Hawaii Red Cross also supported 12,672 military members and their families and trained 13,222 people in lifesaving skills.

“In Hawaii, we respond to disasters every 4 days, providing emergency assistance and emotional support to victims of every day disasters like house fires and floods,” said Coralie Chun Matayoshi, CEO, Hawaii Red Cross. “We also need to be prepared for major disasters and continually share critical preparedness information. In addition, we teach lifesaving skills such as CPR, first aid, babysitting, pet first aid, aquatics and nurse aide training; and provide emergency communications for military service members and their families. We want to thank everyone for their generosity, which has enabled us help people here at home, across the United States, and around the world.”