Sudbury students build Northern Ontario's first human Red Cross

On Sept 25, The Canadian Red Cross, Sudbury Branch and Macdonald-Cartier High School honoured the 100-year anniversary of the Red Cross in Greater Sudbury by inviting students to take part in Northern Ontario’s first human Red Cross logo.

The Canadian Red Cross first began in Sudbury in 1914 as a war time relief organization made of community volunteers. At the time, their role was to help send supplies and relief items to wounded soldiers and civilians affected by the First World War.

Since then, the branch has grown and is an integral part of the Sudbury community. Services include disaster management, personal disaster assistance, homelessness services, first aid, home maintenance, assisted living, priority assistance to transition home, and seniors’ transportation.

Last year alone, the Greater Sudbury Branch of the Canadian Red Cross was responsible for more than 42,000 volunteer hours helping those in need. This included assisting those affected by fires and floods to helping seniors get home safely after a trip to the hospital.

“Greater Sudbury has allowed us to remain true to our global roots while being a staple in the lives of so many in our community,” says Veronica Naaman De Teresi, assistant manager for the Red Cross Sudbury Branch. “We find ourselves in a very generous community giving both to international relief and locally in support of Sudbury’s most vulnerable.”