"These kids today... "

Though they may be too young to spell it, three kids from Vance Elementary illustrated the true meaning of the word "philanthropy."

These young siblings made a very special visit to our 100 Edgewood Road location on Thursday, April 7. Reina (right), Riley (middle) and Avery (left) raised funds for disaster relief in Japan by selling their original artwork to neighbors.

We took this photo of the three kind-hearted kids with their makeshift piggy bank in our lobby on Thursday.

We've received several donations from kids through out the region in response to the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. We are so touched to see so much kindness, world knowledge and generosity in such young people! Looks like the future is in good hands.

2nd Place: Be a Superhero!

The Red Cross saw amazing turn out for the MOFILM PSA/Short Film Competition. We've been sharing the top 5 entries with you. So without further ado, this is the 2nd Place Entry titled Be a Superhero by Remy Neymarc and his brother, Andrew Neymarc, who also helped with writing, producing and directing this PSA.

It might just inspire you to donate now.

Blue Mountain Pizza Donates Some Green to Red Cross

During the month of April, Weaverville mainstay and pizza destination, Blue Mountain Pizza, will match any donation made the American Red Cross of WNC (up to $500) via the box next to the register.

In addition, on the THIRD THURSDAY of the month (that's April 21st), 10% of all the day's revenue will be donated directly to the Red Cross of WNC!

We couldn't be happier... or hungrier!

Blue Mountain Pizza is located in downtown Weaverville at 55 N. Main St.

Read more about Blue Mountain Pizza's Third Thursday Fundraising Campaign here.

Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up!

Welcome to the Weekly Worldwide Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

Côte d'Ivoire: The humanitarian situation in Côte d'Ivoire is worsening as fighting and looting continue. An ICRC-chartered aircraft has landed with nearly 12 tons of supplies to meet the most urgent needs of people affected by the conflict.

LIBYA: As a result of the recent and ongoing fighting in Libya, unexploded munitions pose major risk for civilians. The ICRC is preparing to send staff to provide support for the destruction of such items and to launch a mine risk education campaign.

CHAD: The IFRC and Chadian Red Cross are strengthening programs in areas hit by meningitis, measles and cholera.

Across the Middle East and North Africa: As unrest and violence continue to spread, one of the ICRC's top priorities is to support local health staff in saving lives and ensuring that people in need of emergency medical care – in particular, those wounded in the violence – receive help.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

WCU Students Raise Funds for Japan: These Paper Cranes will Fly a Long Way

After the March 11th Earthquake and consequent tsunami in Japan, Western Carolina University students joined together to raise funds for disaster relief in Japan by folding origami paper cranes and selling those cranes for $1.

Today several of these students and their faculty advisors gathered at WCU's International Festival in order to present the American Red Cross with a substantial amount of funds raised.

But why cranes? An instructor in the Japanese department and a faculty advisor to the students in the International Studies program, Yumiko Ono explained that cranes are a symbol of peace in the Japanese culture and was quoted in the Asheville-Citizen Times as stating that: “Because of the devastating situation, it was only natural to think that the paper crane would be appropriate to wish for peace as well as contributing to the earthquake relief fund in Japan.”

Campus visitors, students and faculty could make at least a $1 donation to the efforts in Japan by purchasing one of these paper origami cranes.

Many faculty and students in the Japanese program at WCU have been touched by such efforts on the part of their campus community. In particular, Anna Hunt, a junior originally from a city outside of Tokyo, had trouble reaching her father and grandparents after news broke out about the earthquake. She estimated that she tried to call her family 20 to 30 times before finally speaking with them. She was quoted in The Reporter, the WCU student newspaper, as saying:

“I thought I had lost them. Now, all I think about is those people who still have a person missing or who have lost someone,” said Hunt. “I think it’s good we are raising money for people who need it."

The funds presented to the American Red Cross today will go a long way to relieve the devastation in Japan. Currently, there are nearly 200,000 people in Red Cross shelters in Japan who are being offered food, hygiene products and even hot showers. In addition, the Red Cross is funding half of the UN World Food Program's efforts in Japan, which is focused primarily on the delivery and storage of relief items. And lastly, of course there are thousands of Japanese Red Cross volunteers working on medical teams, disaster response teams and shelter teams.

Want to spread some peace of your own? Learn how to make an origami paper crane below.

3rd Place: Help Out Before We Run Out

The Red Cross saw amazing turn out for the MOFILM PSA/Short Film Competition. We'll be sharing the top 5 entries with you. So without further ado, this is the 3rd Place Entry titled Help Out Before We Run Out by Anne Barliant.

It might just inspire you to donate now.

4th Place: Animated States

The Red Cross saw amazing turn out for the MOFILM PSA/Short Film Competition. We'll be sharing the top 5 entries with you. So without further ago, this is the 4th place entry titled Animated States by Nick Murray Willis.

It might just inspire you to donate now.