Monday, January 19, 2015

MLK Day of Service - Make it a day on, not a day off!

Today is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day and for many that means a day of service. 


What did you do today to make MLK Day a day on and not a day off?

For many who don't have today off, Saturday was our designated Day of Service. I participated by serving with the Red Cross. 

On Saturday January 17, 2015 the American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City volunteers worked with our partners at KCMO CERT and KCFD to visit homes in the Tri-Blenheim Neighborhood today, installing a total of 52 smoke alarms!! This neighborhood had been identified as a high risk area for home fires. In the ZIP code 64132, we've assisted an average of three families per month needing help because of home fires. Many thanks to those working with us and supporting us in the effort!!

January 5, 2015, ‪#‎RedCross‬ volunteers teamed up with KCMO firefighters and KCMO CERT members to distribute door hangers in the Tri-Blenheim neighborhood…. The hangers advised residents in the neighborhood to call us to make an appointment for us to come back to their home on January 17 to install a free smoke alarm.

Anyone in the greater metropolitan area needing a new smoke alarm to be installed may contact the Red Cross smoke alarm installation team at (816) 841-5242.


Here are pictures from Saturday's event:



Thanks to the Neighborhood Association President (Mr Kennedy) for the opportunity to make a difference, and Research Medical Center (Dr McArthur and staff) for the meeting space!


We hear stories every day of how Smoke Alarms REALLY DO Save Lives!!
Some homes had smoke detectors but as you can see they were out dated. Our goal was to replace those old smoke alarms with new 10 year smoke alarms.

Before we headed out in to the neighborhood we needed to meet up for some instructions and supplies: 









Coffee and Donuts were provided to volunteers prior to and upon return from the field.
We broke up in to teams and headed out to the homes that responded to the January 5th survey. Here's some pics of the team I went out with:

The group I tagged along with included one Red Cross Staff, one Red Cross volunteer (me! - not pictured) and 2 CERT volunteers.




Here are a few of the other teams:

Red Cross volunteers LeAnn Lawlor (left) and Jerry Leach Jr. walk to a home where they will install smoke alarms during an initiative mission where volunteers installed fifty-two alarms and replaced twelve batteries in twenty-four homes around the Tri-Blenheim neighborhood on Saturday, January 17, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Red Cross wants to reduce death and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years. The installations were done at no cost to the homeowners and anyone needing a replacement is to call the Red Cross at 816-841-5242.

Red Cross volunteer Jerry Leach Jr. installs a smoke alarm during an initiative mission where volunteers installed fifty-two alarms and replaced twelve batteries in twenty-four homes around the Tri-Blenheim neighborhood on Saturday, January 17, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Red Cross wants to reduce death and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years. The installations were done at no cost to the homeowners and anyone needing a replacement is to call the Red Cross at 816-841-5242.

Red Cross volunteer Jerry Leach Jr. installs a smoke alarm during an initiative mission where volunteers installed fifty-two alarms and replaced twelve batteries in twenty-four homes around the Tri-Blenheim neighborhood on Saturday, January 17, 2015 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Red Cross wants to reduce death and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years. The installations were done at no cost to the homeowners and anyone needing a replacement is to call the Red Cross at 816-841-5242.



Here are some of the archaic smoke alarms we ran across while out installing new ones: 



Overall, it was a great day! Saturday's ‪#‎FireSafety‬ event by the numbers:
10 American Red Cross of Greater Kansas City Volunteers + 5 Staff Members, with 5 KCMO CERT Volunteers and 5 KCFD Fire Fighters visited 24 homes and installed 52 Smoke Alarms. Great job everyone!!! 
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