PAKPAC helps Coordinate a meeting and a long term strategy with the American Red Cross

The Pakistani American Public Affairs Committee (PAKPAC) President, Dr. Saud Anwar coordinated a meeting of the American Red Cross with the other larger American-Muslim organizations to join in and develop a better understanding with members of the community with the American Red Cross with respect to increasing the number of volunteers of the community within Red Cross. 

There was also a clear planning to help identify ways of increasing volunteers for blood donations from the American-Muslim community and also become part of bone marrow registries across the country.

Discussion were held about concerns about the future situations and disasters where there needs to be a role of the American-Muslim community in helping manage the disasters, but also having an education in advance to the larger Red Cross for cultural and religious training to manage the disaster victims of various backgrounds. 

A discussion was held about terrorism and the concerns that the community has and how the terrorist attack in the United States could result in a backlash against the Muslim community and the need for the planning and coordination to occur at this time with the American Red Cross to help them and join hands with the American Muslim community to help manage that future disasters, but also be able to provide help Red Cross to provide shelter and help to the community.

There needs to be opportunities to have conversions of the various mosques to become shelters in the situation of disasters to help all people of all backgrounds. Involvement of the Muslim chaplains and imams to take care of disaster victims religious and spiritual needs was also held. This discussion included a number of other leadership of the organizations including CAIR, Local Mosques and Muslim Group that were invited by PAKPAC.

The Members of the American Red Cross included Diane Auger, CEO of the Charter Oak Chapter (Greater Hartford), Mario Bruno, COO of the Charter Oak Chapter, Peggy Jimenez, Manager, Preparedness, Charter Oak Chapter, Chris Baker, Emergency Services Director, Greater Hartford Chapter, Adrienne Henning, Director of Recruitment & Outreach, CT Blood Region, Dr. Ritchard Cable, Scientific Advisor, CT Blood Region, Juliet Choi, Senior Director, Disaster Partner Services, Washington, DC, Ross Ogden, Volunteer National Chair, Disaster Services and Member, CT Region Blood Advisory Board.