T>AaE iK 11ÊlýYilEE PRES.WEtIKU SDAY, ,APRIL 26, 1989 Oshawa/Whitby Red Cross 50th anrnversary By Tamara K. Downes 1989 marks the Sth annivers- ary of the *Oshawa/Whitby Regional lied Cross Society F or the past 50 years, tL eRed Cross has served the local com- munity in a number of helpful wyfor both young and elderlyr. TeOshawa branch officially opened in 1939. However, points out the Society's executive secre- tary Fran Harsell, "according to old minutes books we -actually started in 1915." The lied Cross, as it became known, began during World War II when women contributed their time and skill to the war effort, producingknitted goods and ban. dages. Today, the lied Cross provides a lot more to the community, includin g special programs, water safety programs and sick room equipment boan services. "Meals on Wheels" is a fairly popular programý in the Oshawa region . Senior cîtizens or people who have difficulty around the home are delivered well balan- mi TNMD CO5 LAOIE TImrNAIOA I2SISHEP POPL 125MUN WMIONHUUnIA ced, hot meals three times a week. Prom A p fl 1987 to March 1988 a total qf 24,038 meals were served in the area. Volunteers also run a tuck shop at Hillsdale Manor that selîs small but necessary items to the residents. Says Mary' Sano, executive secretary, "'it's convenient for the people there." On March 2, local lawyer, Terry KelIý held the annual Sportsfest inner. The proceeds were donated to the Oshawa/ Whitby regional Red Cross Society. The Red Cross also provides a loan service for seck room equip- mient. "That entails walkers and wheelchairs for temporary pur- poses," says Sano. In 1988,' 108 items of equip- ment were loaned in Whitby and two donations of used equipment were received. Swi¶nming lessons held at Iro- quois Park arena are under the ~uieines of the Ried Cross. The essons not only give children the ability to swim but also the knowledge that swimming can be a dangerous sport if caution is notpractised. Children are also taught the dangers of seasonal water bodies such as spring run-off conditions and ice safety. A homemaker service is also offered to those in need of help with light housekeeping , shop- ping and cookin g. A1l home=a- ers receive four weeks of training at Durham College. Last year volunteers put in 161,582 hours of service. The Oshawa branch also parti- cipates in the emergency and. international care services pro- v iding help in alI parts of Lthe world. In the event of an. inter- national disaster such as the flood in Nejal, an appeal is made by the Red Cross in the country RED CROSS SOCIETY PURPOSE: Provides blood, swim programs, Meals on Wheels, and Homemaker services for the elderly and diabled. FUNDING: a United Way agency. P4EMBIERSHJP: 800 locally; 1,000 blood donors. CONTACT: Mary Sano 723-2933. BUDGET(local): $24,000 on special programs. where the disaster occurred. The appeal is received at Red Cross headquarters in Geneva Swit- zerland, from where it is directed to sister societies around the world. Yet the most known activity provided by the.,lRed Cross is the blood donor clinics held fre- quently. Prom April 1987 to March 1988, 1,275 units of blood were collected from Whitby donors. On April il at the Whitby Legion, another blood donor clinic was held. Funds are provided by the United Way. UNDER Red Cross duidelinesswim- on swim skiils. Ajsq taught are ioe ming lessons at Whitb's nn Otten- safety and the hazards of spring run- britie nnnl focus on caution as weU as off. P-nPe ht TFEEwere 342 donations mnade at the A p i llblood donor clime in Whitby. One donor wasTown dejuty pl3anning director Paul Rycroft (right), who reoeived bis 5Oth donation certificate. Assisting Stuart Bonnetta (left) was nurse E. Broadfoot. The ne xt climc will be JuIy 4 at the Lgo.Vnco Ohprecfo-Freo Promu photo 125 years of protecting life On May 8, Red Cross Societies around the world will clebrate 125 years of protecting human life. May 8 is World Red Cross Day, and it is celebrated to honor Henry Dunant's birthday, the Swiss businessman who conceived the idea of the Red Cross. The first World Ried Cross Day was celebrated in 1948. The first World Red Cross Day te be celebrated with a theme, was held in 1953 to mark the 125th anniversary of Dunant's birthday. Today, more than 40 years later, the Ried Cross and Red Crescent Movement is still bard at work carrying on Dunant's dream by protecting human rights and saving lives throughout the world. Dunant's vision of a neutral socety to protect the rights and lives of those wounded in war began on the battlefield of Solferino, one of the bloodiest batties of the 1800s. He was horrified by the sight of the thousands of dead and dying soîliers who lay deserted on the field after the battie. In bis book« A Memory of Solferino,' Dunant wrote tbat this neutral society would Ibe charged with looking afler all wounded soldiers, regardless of wliat aide they had been fighting for. Mis idea was, and still is, very simple, '. .. the dignî*tyý of people must be respected at ailâtmes - even in war.0 The Red Crss believes as much in Duxants vision today, as be did 125 years ago, and will continue to work tirelessly to protect huinan rights and save lives. World Red Cross Day clebrates and renews this worldwide commitmnent because wbn elp is needed ...the lRed Cross will be there. Fl. V 1St. John Ambulance courses in 16 and 18,, 6 to 10 p .m. courses tor certification to teach St. John Am ulance standard first aid and cardiopul- Free traininig for one-person first aid and CPR, a babysitters' monary resuscitation (combined) CPR (to first 16 students) will be course for ages 12 and over, child will be held May 15 and 16, 8:30 held Tuesday, May 23, 9 a.m. to :ifesaver'course for child caregi- offers first-aid courses a.m.to 4:30 p.m.; May 13 and 14, 1 p.m. (Charges for textbook). vers. For more information cal 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; May 9, 11, There are also instructor Shirley Spicer (668-9006). Imagine is a national campaign of The Canadian Centre for Philanthropy to increase Canadians' awareness and contribution to ail charitable and volunteer organizations. We support their goals and are contributing space for the Imagine ads on.this and other pages. I To bring the campaign closer to home, the Whitby Free Press is running a series of profiles of the needs and activities of local organizations. Cali us if your organization could use a boost. MXJPJ i6w, Tw&ýe-- irt