The Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross has been busy reaching out into the community to help citizens prepare for disasters. There are free classes and training for all ages and many opportunities to learn about preparedness.

During September, which was National Preparedness Month, the chapter partnered with Seymour Library to offer nine sessions of “Be Red Cross Ready,” a free one-hour self-preparedness class. Hunter Sweet, AmeriCorpsVISTA with the chapter, facilitated the classes at the library and several other sites in the community. He is available to come to schools, businesses, churches and other local agencies to offer “Be Red Cross Ready” and other preparedness classes, all for free. Call the chapter to schedule a class.

Beginning in January, Teresa Harmon, our second AmeriCorpsVISTA, has been teaching 3- to 6-year-olds in pre-schools, day care centers and public schools about stopping the spread of germs through the Scrubby Bear Hand Washing Program. By the end of November, she will have reached more than 2,300 children in Cayuga County. This program has been graciously funded by The Stardust Foundation.

Since 1995, New York state has incurred an estimated $5.3 million in disaster losses. These disasters have afflicted all regions of the state and included tornadoes, ice storms, blizzards, fires and flooding. To mitigate the lives lost and damage to property, American Red Cross chapters in New York state have placed five regional coordinators throughout the state.

The regional coordinators will manage the NYS Citizen Preparedness Program which is designed to educate residents on citizen readiness, to support current chapter activities, to encourage the public and community-at-large to get ready for a disaster or emergency, to promote collaboration in communities and to share resources.

Rich Hajeris will serve the upstate region and will be housed at the Onondaga-Oswego Chapter. His satellite office will be in Auburn. Hajeris will serve as the liaison to the seven local Red Cross chapters, county offices of emergency management and other community organizations to develop and implement new preparedness initiatives including recruitment and training of volunteers and coordinating special events and meetings. The objective of the Citizen Preparedness Program for central New York is to train at least 3,000 individuals and recruit 200 new volunteers to be instructors of community preparedness programs and to serve in chapters as members of the disaster response team.

If you are already feeling the crunch of the holidays, come spend Wednesday, Nov. 19, at Cosentino's Florist for the chapter's “Evening of Hospitality & Good Cheer” open house. From 6 to 9 p.m., the floral shop will be brimming with holiday decorating ideas, gift giving inspiration, homemade fudge, hors d'oeuvers and libations and much more. Local artists will host booths selling their wares. Meet Tom Hussey, painter and print maker; Creaziones by Andrea; Gem Stone Jewelry by Pam Kudla; Oils by Lisa Noviasky; Seven Cats Studio with a selection of necklaces of Celtic motif or Venetian and fused glass strung on Irish linen; plus the chapter will be selling the 2008 Measles Initiative Holiday cards. Tickets are $10 per person in advance and are available at the chapter, 11 State St., Auburn, or at Cosentino's, 141 Dunning Ave., Auburn.

Remember that a gift certificate for a Red Cross first aid/CPR or babysitting class is a perfect way to show someone that you care. Don't forget to donate blood during the busy holiday rush. An hour of your time can save a life. That is quite a gift.

For information about blood drives, Dollars for

Disaster and ARC classes,

contact us at 252-9596 or

chapter@ccredcross.org.

Susan Marteney is executive director of the Cayuga County Chapter of the American Red Cross