American Red Cross of South Carolina

DID YOU KNOW: In the wake of the devastating 1893 Sea Islands, SC Hurricane, the American Red Cross under Clara Barton's leadership, set up headquarters in an old warehouse in Beaufort. For 10 months, the Red Cross guided recovery efforts and distributed supplies to more than 30,000 residents of the Sea Islands. Clara Barton used this sewing kit while assisting impacted Sea Islanders to help them remake donated clothing. Clara's sewing box, along with many other artifacts from her life, are on display at the Red Cross headquarters in Washington DC. Read more about her life and legacy as the founder of the American Red Cross here: redcross.org/clarabarton

On New Years Day, five American Red Cross volunteers and disaster action team (DAT) members responded to an apartment fire on Garners Ferry Road in Columbia that displaced 52 people. Hear from Shanika Goggans, DAT volunteer, how the Red Cross is supporting these 11 families in the aftermath of this disaster:

DISASTER RESPONSE UPDATE: American Red Cross disaster-trained volunteers are assisting a family whose home, located on Highway 9 W, Dillon SC, was destroyed by a fire on Wednesday. The Red Cross is helping four people by providing financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing, and shelter, along with referrals to much-needed resources. In South Carolina, The Red Cross responds to an average of 6 home fires every day. In the colder months, unfortunately, we tend to see a 30% increase in home fires. Remember to check your smoke alarms, change the batteries if they are chirping, and replace alarms older than 10 years.

NOW AVAILABLE: Skate in to give blood or platelets now until Jan. 3 for a cool long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while they last. Make your appointment to chill with us: https://rcblood.org/appt.

“Our volunteers make up 90% of our workforce and are the beating heart and soul of the Red Cross,” said Yolanda Gainwell, Interim CEO of the Red Cross of South Carolina. “Their support is immeasurable. Their precious gift of time builds our capacity to help people in what can be their darkest hour.” Depending on your interests, the Red Cross offers a variety of volunteer opportunities — from supporting a family after a fire in their home, helping a member of the military during an emergency, or helping us ensure blood is available for patients who need it. Click here to view our most needed volunteer positions and Resolve to Volunteer in 2025: https://rdcrss.org/49YfFZo

Can you lend an arm to help us fill open blood drive appointments this week? Enter your zip code at RedCrossBlood.org to view mobile drives near you and make an appointment. Blood Donor Center locations and hours this week: Charleston, West Ashley - 2000 Sam Rittenberg Blvd 12/31 from 8am-2:30pm 1/1 from 8am-2:30pm 1/2 from 10am-4:30pm 1/3 from 8am-2:15pm Mount Pleasant - 920 Houston Northcutt Blvd 12/31 from 8am-2:30pm 1/3 from 8am-2:45pm Myrtle Beach - 3681 Renee Drive Unit #4 12/31 from 8am-2:45pm 1/1 from 8am-2:45pm 1/2 from 10am-4:45pm 1/3 from 8am-2:45pm Columbia - 2751 Bull St 12/31 from 7am-1:45pm 1/1 from 7am-1:45pm 1/2 from 10am-4:45pm 1/3 from 7am-1:45pm A gift for you: All who come to give blood through January 3 will receive an exclusive Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt, while they last! Make your appointment to give the gift of life: https://rcblood.org/appt

Clarissa Harlowe Barton, known as Clara, is one of the most honored women in American history. During the Civil War, she risked her life to bring supplies and support to soldiers in the field. She founded the American Red Cross in 1881 at age 59 and led it for the next 23 years. Her understanding of how to help people in distress guided her throughout her life. Through her personal example, she opened paths to the new field of volunteer service. Her intense devotion to serving others resulted in enough achievements to fill several ordinary lifetimes. Jamie Raichel, Executive Director of the Red Cross of South Carolina Upstate Chapter, joined WSPA 7News' Your Carolina show this morning to discuss how Clara's legacy lives on through the Red Cross today.

"She had a slight wheeze when she laughed,” Dr. Ryan Teten remembers when his wife was first diagnosed with carcinoid syndrome after a doctor ordered an x-ray of his wife Tonya’s lungs to rule out pneumonia. That first x-ray 12 years ago showed a tumor on Tonya’s lung that necessitated surgery and subsequent surgeries roughly every two years as more tumors were discovered throughout her body. “Since the lung lobe removal, she's had gallbladder removal, a partial hysterectomy, a full hysterectomy, then two biopsies and two cases of skin cancer,” said Dr. Teten. “It just pops up all over the place. In fact, the most recent one, we went in to get her glasses, and they said, you have blind spots on both peripherals, so we're concerned there's a tumor laying on your ocular nerve. So, it's kind of ongoing for us.” Throughout her journey, Tonya has been hospitalized numerous times and relied on countless transfusions of blood products to get her through treatments. “Blood has been essential to getting her back on her feet and resetting her immune system,” said Dr. Teten. “Blood transfusions and blood donation have become a big part of our lives. As soon as she had lung surgery, I started giving blood pretty religiously to try and make sure those coffers were full.” Despite the constant anxiety, the Tetens remain positive and roll with the punches. Dr. Teten is amazed at his wife’s resiliency and outlook on life. Dr. Teten is the Executive Director of the Spartanburg Art Museum. He invites the community to come out and donate blood at the Museum’s blood drive on Monday, December 30, from 10 am to 3 pm. Learn more and make an appointment: https://rdcrss.org/40bHZ7c

Over the past week, the American Red Cross of South Carolina has responded to 28 local home and apartment fires, which have displaced at least 45 families. We are currently helping 132 people by providing financial assistance for immediate needs such as food, clothing, and shelter. We are also offering impacted families referrals to much-needed resources, such as health services, to replace medical items lost in the fires. "It's devastating because you could see Christmas presents in the rubble and trees completely engulfed in the fire. You think of the children and families uprooted during a time of year when they should be making happy memories," said Kara Byrd, Executive Director of the Red Cross of South Carolina Eastern Chapter. "Sadly, around this time of year, we tend to see a 30% uptick in home fires, and we've seen that unfortunately too much over the past five days across the PeeDee. Our hearts are with those impacted, and we're going to be with them throughout their recovery." YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters, like home fires, and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. People can donate by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

December 25 marks the birthday of American Red Cross founder Clara Barton, one of the most honored women in American history. Driven by a desire to help those in need, Clara was a compassionate and tenacious visionary who built a legacy of volunteer service. Jamie Raichel, Executive Director for the Red Cross of South Carolina Upstate Chapter, joined Fox Carolina as Clara to talk about how her vision of preventing and alleviating suffering continues as ordinary people advance her extraordinary legacy through the Red Cross still today.