How to Help Victims of the Oklahoma Tornado

Donating money to organizations that help victims is quick and easy.

Americans across the country are reacting with shock to the devastation caused by a 2-mile-wide tornado in Oklahoma. Dozens have died, and President Obama has declared the path of the tornado a major disaster area. If you would like to help, you can do so from your computer or mobile device right now. Patch will be posting stories of locals who are working to help victims from afar. If you know of someone local was affected by the tornado or who is working to help the victims, please contact your local editor.

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Red Cross Offers Memorial Day Safety Tips

Have a safe and fun Memorial Day Weekend!

Memorial Day weekend is here and as we all remember the sacrifices that our military men and women and their families have made, many may be taking to the highway for a quick vacation, breaking out the grill for some outdoor cooking, or taking that first dip in the pool. The American Red Cross offers some safety tips to help everyone have a great weekend. Memorial Day weekend is the unofficial start of summer, and here are some tips to staying safe this holiday. Drive Safe With many people traveling over the holiday weekend, it’s more important than ever to drive safely. People should be well rested and alert, use their seat belts, observe speed limits and follow the rules of the road. If anyone plans on drinking alcohol, they should …

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Who has your back?

They say that there are only three constants in life: Change, choice and priorities.

 When unexpected change shows up quickly and regularly, as it did this year, with the arrival of both Irene and the late October storm, life gets complicated.  When the economy has you stressed to begin with, unexpected change is rarely benevolent.  Violent community change requires a shock absorber.   Our ever vigilant community shock absorber is our local chapter of the Red Cross.  When times get tough, the Red Cross is there for all of us, regardless of who we are or where we live.  Recently, in responding to these two storms, Summit’s shock absorber has taken a couple of big financial hits and could use some help. We all are all besieged with requests for help at this time of the year.  This creates an uncomfortable condition requiring…

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Sisters Spread Charity From New Jersey to Reading for Red Cross

The sisters, who have never been to Reading, organized their drive to benefit the holiday basket program through YouGiveGoods.com, a website where donors could go to buy items that would be sent directly to the Red Cross.

Red Cross Chapter to Close Madison Office

Summit location will become only headquarters for Colonial Crossroads Chapter.

The Colonial Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross will close its Madison Chapter house to consolidate administrative functions and cut costs. The chapter, which serves Summit, Madison, the Chathams, Long Hill, Florham Park, East Hanover, Berkeley Heights New Providence, and Springfield, hopes to sell the Madison house and use the chapter's Summit location as its headquarters. "We've basically outgrown the Madison chapter house," said Mary Scheanen, communications and marketing manager for the chapter." It's too small to accommodate blood drives and health and safety classes." Organizations in each of the communities the chapter serves already host most of the blood drives and classes the Red Cross offers. Schaenen said this will …

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