The Pennridge High School Red Cross Club has officially begun fundraising activities to support global disaster relief and emergencies. Nationally, the American Red Cross is a humanitarian network of millions of people around the country. Red Cross clubs can be school-run or community-driven, providing an excellent opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others, both locally and internationally. Across the United States, the Red Cross addresses various issues, including blood shortages, measles outbreaks in Africa, natural disaster relief, and house fires. On average, the national organization aids in 65,000 disasters each year, responding to an emergency every eight minutes, an unprecedented achievement among charitable organizations.
Amy Moyer, advisor of the Red Cross Club at Pennridge High School, expressed her objectives for the club. “My main goal is to raise awareness of the mission of the American Red Cross for both the members of the club and the whole school community,” she said. Each year, the Red Cross Club aims to expand its efforts and make a more significant impact than in previous years. In past years, the club has hosted blood drives, where students volunteer to donate their blood to local hospitals. These drives are held in the gymnasium, where nurses and other volunteers assist with the procedures. Students walk away feeling fulfilled, knowing their actions may save lives. “Ideally, we are creating the next generation of volunteers and blood donors,” Moyer stated. The club tries to host at least two blood drives each year and is currently planning its first drive of the school year.
In addition to blood drives, this service-oriented club has responded to natural disasters. The devastation from this year’s hurricane season was heartbreaking, but the Pennridge High School Red Cross Club stepped up to help. The club organized a food and clothing drive for Hurricane Milton and Helene, encouraging students and teachers to donate items. These contributions supported areas in North Carolina and Florida affected by the storms. Moyer recalled a successful fundraising initiative from her previous school after Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Students hosted a car wash, with all the proceeds going to relief efforts, raising over $1,000, which made a significant difference. Moyer hopes to implement similar fundraisers at Pennridge in the future.
Liliana Orsino, president of the Red Cross Club at Pennridge, mentioned other fundraising events. “We just had our first candy gram sale and are looking forward to hosting more for different holidays,” she said. The club organized Halloween-themed candygrams and is planning sales for Christmas and Valentine’s Day. Orsino aims to engage students, inform them about the organization, and encourage their involvement. “We try to spread the word by creating posters and sending messages in the Ramble,” she said. “Soon, we hope to be featured in the Ramble to talk about these messages of safety and awareness to give people a broader understanding of the things we do.” Candygrams resonate with students and encourage them to support the Red Cross.
Moyer is a strong advocate for the organization, drawing on her years of experience as an advisor and volunteer. “The Red Cross has historically been a crucial organization in the U.S. as well as around the world,” she said. “When people face a disaster, they are at their most vulnerable, and I want to help them whether they have been in a car accident and need blood or a tornado destroyed their home. Disasters can happen to any of us at any moment. By volunteering for the RC, you are paying it forward if you should ever meet such misfortune.”
Sources:
https://pennridgehs.pennridge.org/departments/clubs-and-activities
https://www.redcross.org/red-cross-youth/red-cross-clubs/k12-and-college.html#:~:text=As%20a%20Red%20Cross%20Club,to%20local%20or%20national%20disasters
https://www.redcross.org/about-us/our-work/disaster-relief.html?srsltid=AfmBOorxAeSw__JcYxVl6rnXKMw791MKZz7i1ZS2HYTTfm8wlFkEUK2m