The American Red Cross continues to experience an emergency blood shortage as severe winter weather has further impacted the ability to rebuild the blood supply. Blood donors are urged to give now to help ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not delayed.

The national blood supply remains at critically low levels. Blood drives have been canceled in nearly every state where the Red Cross collects blood. As a result, nearly 15,000 blood and platelet donations have gone uncollected this month alone. In addition to dangerous road conditions, many Americans have dealt with flight and shipping delays, and the Red Cross is no different. Snow, ice and extreme temperatures have made it tougher to move vital blood products across the Red Cross network, affecting deliveries to hospitals in some locations.

As much of the country warms up this week, individuals are urged to make an appointment now to give blood or platelets by using the Red Cross Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). As a thank-you, all those who come to give Feb. 1-29, 2024, will receive a $20 Amazon.com Gift Card by email. Visit RedCrossBlood.org/Heart for details.

The nation is currently facing the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years. When fewer people donate blood, any disruption to blood donations – like recent weather systems – can have a huge effect on the availability of blood products and dramatic consequences for those in need of emergency blood transfusion. Generous blood donors are vital to ensuring those in need of transfusions have access to lifesaving care.

New Blood Donor Rewards program

Since announcing an emergency blood shortage earlier this month, thousands of donors across the country have answered the call to help. In appreciation for all those who take the time to help save lives, the Red Cross is pleased to launch an all-new Blood Donor Rewards program. This program offers a new way for the Red Cross to say thank-you for the generous donations that are critical to patients counting on lifesaving care. All donors will now earn points for their donations that accumulate each time they roll up a sleeve to give. Donors automatically started earning points on Jan. 1, 2024, and they can redeem points any time of year to receive e-gift cards or save them to redeem and claim an exclusive Red Cross merchandise item in the next calendar year. For more information, visit RedCrossBlood.org/Rewards.

Upcoming blood donation opportunities

Ventura 2/13/2024: 11:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m., Knights of Columbus, 36 S. Figueroa St.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.

Elizabeth Rugg Pallet Community Development Manager and Ted Sweeny representative for Pallet in front of a Pallet shelter.

by Patricia Schallert

On January 25th, The City of Ventura hosted a tour of two pallet shelters. Demonstrating an innovative model with proven results, Elizabeth Rugg stated that “Pallet shelters are cost-effective, rapid to install and  have the capacity to serve people  displaced by global conflict, disasters or chronic homelessness.”

Stated Patrick Diller “While finding suitable land for shelter villages can seem like a complex and challenging process, it is not impossible. By making a commitment to ending unsheltered homelessness, it is possible to find solutions that benefit unhoused individuals and the community as a whole.”

Pallet living shelters represent more than just a practical solution for housing the unhoused; it embodies a larger vision of community, sustainability, and social responsibility. According to Ted Sweeney, a Pallet representative, “by working together to build and maintain shelters, individuals form supportive networks based on mutual respect and shared experiences.The importance of collaborative efforts within the Ventura community cannot be overstated. It  includes  volunteers, organizations, and the unhoused themselves. This fosters a sense of collective responsibility and empowerment, where individuals actively participate in creating solutions to address homelessness.”

The Pallet organization recognizes the inherent dignity and rights of unhoused individuals. By providing safe and secure shelter, it affirms their right to adequate housing and challenges social stigmas associated with homelessness.

Social networks and support systems can easily be created through Pallet living shelters and can  offer encouragement, and mutual aid to unhoused individuals. Coordinating efforts with law-enforcement, mental health services, medical services, code enforcement, social workers and sanitation while  providing emotional support, practical assistance, and a sense of belonging.

In addition to the basic shelter provided by Pallet living shelters supplementary services can enhance the well-being and sustainability of unhoused communities along with access to healthcare services, including medical clinics, mental health support, and substance abuse treatment.

The Sleeper (70sq ft) and the EnSuite 120sq ft. showed two fully-built shelters with industry-leading design features such as a mono-pitch roof, and a smooth exterior and interior panel. The Sleeper houses one or two, and the EnSuite includes in-unit hygiene facilities. Pallet shelters were designed by people who had lived experience in homelessness .

Residential energy efficient windows, locking doors and peepholes, smooth interior walls, easily accessed interior lighting, and climate control offer comfort and privacy. Interior storage and space allows residents to keep possessions and pets, while the customizable shelving system and freestanding bed and desk are designed for simple modification – making each shelter a personalized space to recharge.

These pallet shelters  can be manufactured inexpensively, deployed and assembled with urgency, and act as a short-term solution for cities like Ventura to aid their unhoused communities—all while providing comfort for residents. Units can be easily moved by forklift or disassembled and stored, preventing the possibility of becoming costly, long-term housing that isn’t dignified.

There is no one solution to end homelessness. Ventura, like many   communities have their own specific needs. While Pallet villages coupled with supportive services are a successful model,  there are many other  strategies to address the homelessness crisis. Working closely with cities across the country, Pallet realize communities want to find the right solutions and “know our expertise and learnings from deploying over 100 shelter villages could help them drive change.” By connecting village residents to housing navigation, job assistance, and a stable food source right where they live, unhoused individuals can start on the path to permanent housing.