Red Cross and Partners Airlift Critical Supplies to Hard-Hit Pine Hill, New York

NEW YORK, Aug. 31, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Red Cross took disaster relief to new heights Aug. 30, when it airlifted more than 18,000 pounds of food supplies to Pine Hill, N.Y., where residents have been isolated by flooding caused by Hurricane Irene.

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To complete the life-saving task, the Red Cross relied on the support of several partners in the New York City area, among them JetBlue, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, Yankee Clipper, the New York State Office of Emergency Management and the New York Army National Guard.

"The Red Cross could not carry out a mission like this alone," said Vikki Pryor, CEO of the American Red Cross in Greater New York Region. "Our extraordinary partners truly went above and beyond."

The mission began at LaGuardia Airport where the Port Authority facilitated a landing zone for two National Guard Blackhawk helicopters to be loaded with thousands of sandwiches, boxes of cereal, pasta, juice and milk provided by JetBlue and Yankee Clipper.

From there it was flown to the Catskills' Belleayre Mountain where over 100 people have taken refuge in a shelter. It is expected to sustain those residents as well as three other neighboring communities—Fleischmanns, Archville and Margaretville—that are all without electricity. 

In addition to the food, JetBlue and its employees launched an employee giving program today to raise funds for the Hurricane Irene relief effort. The Red Cross is providing vital relief to millions of Americans affected by the storm.

JetBlue is a long-time Red Cross partner and also participates in Ready When the Time Comes, a disaster volunteer training program. Through it, many employees have responded to disasters in New York and beyond, including recent floods in Minot, N.D.

"It was extremely gratifying to see the relief on the faces of the Pine Hill residents when we delivered the food today," said Marcela Espinoza-Prado, Greater NY Red Cross Regional Director, Volunteer Resources and Youth Programs. "The Red Cross did what it does best today—help our neighbors in need."

Those who want to help can click or text to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations can be made by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-REDCROSS, or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions can also be sent to local Red Cross chapters or mailed to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

SOURCE American Red Cross in Greater New York