Longshore members collected donations for the Hawaii Red Cross. From left to right: Red Cross disaster volunteer Caonnie McCurdy, Nate Lum, Brian Indreginal, Gordon Yamashiro, Bert Lane, and Red Cross CEO Coralie Chun Matayoshi carrying Red Cross mascot Scout.

Oahu ILWU longshore members volunteered their time to help raise money for the Hawaii Chapter of the American Red Cross in a “hats off” event on March 5, 2005. March is National Red Cross Month and volunteers collected donations from the public at 12 locations on Oahu and 4 on the neighbor islands. The event also salutes the Red Cross for the good work they do in providing aid to victims of disasters and helping the community prepare for and respond to emergencies.

The Oahu longshore members took their position on Sand Island Access Road from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, and, lacking hats, held out plastic shopping bags to collect donations from passing motorists. A total of $60,000 was collected by the teams of volunteers.

About the Red Cross 
Most of us know of the American Red Cross as an organization that comes to the aid of victims of natural disasters such as a flood or tsunami. Members of the military and their families often count on the Red Cross to get in touch with their families in an emergency. Some of us may know that an international arm of the Red Cross works to insure the humane treatment of prisoners and civilians in times of war and conflicts.

Here at home, we most often hear about the Hawaii Chapter of the Red Cross giving food, shelter and clothing to families who lose their home in a fire or flood. Many of us have also received training on First Aid and CPR or have sent our children to learn about water safety from classes run by the Red Cross. These and other activities are

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