Neighbors helping neighbors in times of disaster has been the mission of the American Red Cross since its founding in 1881. And since its own launch, circa 1916, the Ridgewood chapter of the Red Cross has been a vibrant and vital part of the Bergen community, with volunteers providing compassionate care for those affected by fires, floods and other disasters such as plane crashes and the tragedies surrounding Sept. 11, 2001.  "The volunteers of the Red Cross are your next door neighbors, they live in your community," says Ray Shepherd, CEO of the Northern New Jersey chapter of the Red Cross. "They take that extra step, go the extra mile to help when it's needed most. For years, the Bergen chapter has been a tremendous community asset."

HISTORY

First located in a building across from the Ridgewood train station, the chapter moved to a three-story frame Victorian building, originally called The Pomander Inn, at 74 Godwin Ave. in 1942. This Red Cross chapter then served the towns of Franklin Lakes, Glen Rock, Ho-Ho-Kus, Midland Park, Paramus, Wyckoff and Ridgewood. In the 1990s, after a series of mergers with other chapters, it became the Bergen Crossroads and eventually, more recently merged with several counties to become part of the Northern New Jersey Chapter of the American Red Cross.

In 1994, when an arsonist set fire to the Godwin Avenue building, it was all but destroyed along with valuable Red Cross memorabilia and half a century's worth of files and equipment. But from the ashes of the fire came incredible support, says John Uzzi, Red Cross board member and Paramus resident. "A fantastic group of volunteers got together and frankly, went to war, seeing this as an opportunity to bring the community together, raise funds and build a new building." Money was raised and the building, as it now stands, was rebuilt and dedicated in 1996.

BERGEN STEPS UP

With the help of more than 270 volunteers in Bergen, as well as volunteers from all of their chapters, in 2009 the Northern New Jersey Red Cross was able to provide warm meals, clothing and a place to stay for 681 families, collect 8,861 units of blood, train more than 28,000 people in CPR, first aid and water rescue and provide care and support to 849 military families, before as well as during their loved one's deployment.

The Ridgewood site is also home to the Youth Council, an active group of teens from local high schools. The students meet once a week with a youth volunteer coordinator and decide themselves what projects they want to raise money for, says Thereza Schwarz, volunteer manager for Bergen and Hudson counties. Last year they sent funds to Africa for a measles initiative, shopped for soldiers, and hosted a Halloween House in Ridgewood where they provided information to young children on safety. "It helps the teens develop leadership skills because they make all of the decisions, all of the responsibility is on them," says Schwarz. Some of the high schools who have Red Cross clubs include Northern Highlands, Bergen Academies and Paramus High School.

Another unique opportunity to help fund the Red Cross is membership in the Tiffany Circle, a group of women leaders and philanthropists who have pledged to donate $10,000 a year to their local chapter. Says Patricia Fagan, senior associate of development, "This is a wonderful group of women donors. One of our original members Peg Knight, of Saddle River, has been a Red Cross volunteer since she was a young girl in the motor pool in South Carolina during World War II."

The Red Cross receives no funds from the federal government and exists solely through donations from companies, individuals and charitable organizations. During times of disasters on a national scale, like 9/11, help in the form of money, volunteers and blood donations, poured in. "After 9/11, we had people come in off the street wanting to donate money and ask to help," says Uzzi. "One of the assistant coaches of the NY Giants showed up one day and asked what he could do. I told him we had bottles of water that needed to be stacked out in the garage and he said 'I'll do it.'" Uzzi also remembers a group of special-needs kids who came in with a big jar of coins they had collected. "The outpouring of support was incredible."

It would seem that no training or preparation could have prepared the Red Cross for the events of 9/11. Not necessarily so, says volunteer and instructor Joe Peters. "All disasters have one thing in common; people are in need of help. What changes is the magnitude. Instead of a single family who lost their home in a fire, it's a large number of people who need aid." After 9/11, there was a significant need for mental health counseling and, according to Uzzi, the Red Cross was once again prepared. "In this instance, people didn't need food or shelter. They needed counseling, and we are fortunate to have a network of professionally licensed mental-health workers in Bergen who donated their time."

VOLUNTEER STORIES

When Ridgewood resident Nancy Karole Kennedy, who had narrowly escaped from her office on the 70th floor of the South Tower of the World Trade Center, revisited the site a month after the attacks, she stood looking over the chain link fence at the site and noticed the Red Cross volunteers inside the fence. "It was a month later but they were still there helping the recovery workers." A year later, as a result of her experience, she, too, became a disaster services volunteer and eventually, until recently, a full-time employee of the Red Cross. "I wanted to do something to give back to the people who had helped us but I also wanted to be trained to know what to do if and when the next disaster happens, to be one of the ones giving help instead of needing it."

Hawthorne resident Joe Peters, who has been involved as a volunteer and instructor with the Red Cross since 1971, estimates he has trained 200 to 300 volunteers in the last few years in all aspects of disaster response, including teaching CPR and first aid. Nine years ago, his training in lifesaving techniques enabled him to save the life of a young woman on an airplane. "A girl had become unconscious during the flight and although flight attendants and a recent medical school graduate were working to save her, I wasn't satisfied with what they were doing so I stepped in and we got her breathing again," he says. "And, I understand, she not only fully recovered but eventually went off to medical school."

Bergen disaster responders were on site for last January's "Miracle on the Hudson" flight with blankets and coffee for freezing passengers. One grateful recipient of their help, Dave Sanderson, visited the Ridgewood chapter last July to thank area volunteers for their aid. He reported that within 30 minutes of the crash landing, he was in Palisades General Hospital receiving treatment wearing the sweats given to him by Red Cross volunteers at the Weehawken Ferry Station to replace the frozen, wet clothes he had been wearing. "What you guys do is very important," he told them. "You show the compassion and power of people and of people's love."

The heart and soul of the Red Cross remains its volunteers. "These people are amazing," says Uzzi. "Those who are trained in disaster relief sign on and make a commitment. At literally a few hours notice, they'll go to Newark Airport, hop on a plane, fly to where they are needed, whether it's a hurricane in the Midwest or a flood, and they'll be there for 2 or 3 weeks. It's unbelievable." But volunteering doesn't have to mean going to a fire at midnight or flying across the country. "We couldn't live without the volunteers in our office," says Fagan. "From the front desk to data entry in the back office to the people who help at blood drives, you can talk to every single department in this building and everyone would say they could not exist without their volunteers." In fact, according to Uzzi, there are 32 volunteers for every paid staff member. "This is what the Red Cross is all about, what we were built on," he says. "What they do makes what we do possible." 

DINE AND DONATE

The American Red Cross Northern NJ has joined Restaurant Give Back, a program that combines discounts at local restaurants with contributions to local charities. Beginning in April 2010, the program offers savings and incentives for dining locally while helping important nonprofit organizations. Once registered in the program, every time diners eat at any of the participating restaurants in the local area, they will receive 10 percent off the bill (except Saturday night) and be supporting a vote to the American Red Cross Northern NJ. Frequent dining includes chances to win $10,000, $20,000 and $30,000 prizes each year. And, 10 percent of the program's revenue will be donated to charities that join the program including American Red Cross Northern NJ.

For program details, visit restaurantgiveback.com/org_register/american-red-cross-northern-jersey.

HAITIAN RELIEF EFFORTS

Local volunteers have responded to thousands of calls from concerned Bergen residents regarding Haiti relief effort information, donations, volunteering, and how to find loved ones in the area. Chapter staff also has responded to numerous requests for collection cans to be distributed throughout the chapter area. In addition, the chapter continues to reach out to the local Haitian community to keep them updated on relief efforts and how best to help.
To make a contribution to the Haitian Relief Fund, visit redcrossnnj.org.