See Red For Disasters, Conflicts And Emergencies: New Zealand Red Cross’ Annual Appeal 2010

New Zealand Red Cross is asking people to SEE RED during the organisation’s Annual Appeal (1 March - 7 March).

The message is particularly relevant today (Sunday) as New Zealand Red Cross joins emergency management organizations in preparing for a tsunami following a massive earthquake in Chile. Overnight, Red Cross staff and volunteers set up a welfare centre in Blenheim to shelter people who evacuated from Rarangi Beach, which was highly at risk. All around New Zealand today, trained staff and volunteers are on standby to assist in case of emergency.

“A combination of disasters, food insecurity, conflict and the global economic crisis has left the world’s most vulnerable communities exposed,” says Penny Mason, New Zealand Red Cross’ National President.

“Over the past year, Red Cross has offered humanitarian assistance to millions of people worst affected by this catastrophic combination of events, both overseas and right here in New Zealand. We need the public’s help to continue immediately responding to those in greatest need, as we have done during the earthquake in Haiti, the tsunami in Samoa, and the Pacific cyclones.”

New Zealand Red Cross is asking people to SEE RED about the plight of vulnerable people around the world and to recall the red of the Red Cross. The welcome sight of the Red Cross – on the shirt of a volunteer, on a box of relief or on a flag above a hospital – means practical and relevant assistance is being delivered in a neutral and impartial manner, without political, religious or cultural affiliations.

A fun addition to the fundraising campaign this year is a Trade Me auction of donated red goodies worth more than $10,000 including a ruby necklace, 12 months free parking at any Wilson carpark, Helly Hansen jackets, a mountain biking adventure in the Red Woods, three armfuls of red roses, a red Zambesi dress, a red Nokia from Vodafone and a weekend’s use of a red Mini Cooper convertible. From 1 March, the auction will be live at trademe.co.nz/nzredcross

In addition to donating to the SEE RED collectors during appeal week (1 - 7 March), when most street collections will be on Friday, 5 March, people can call 0900 RED CROSS (0900 733 27) to make a $20 donation or make a secure credit card donation at www.redcross.org.nz

Money raised will be used to fund a wide range of New Zealand Red Cross projects and activities including the Breakfasts in Schools programme that offers over 1600 hungry Kiwi kids a healthy breakfast each morning, sending Kiwi aid workers overseas, developing New Zealand Red Cross’ emergency response capacity, and sending immediate funding to buy supplies after a disaster.

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