Frederica G. Blausten, AMAC executive director, and program participants join Jonathan Gabriel, director of the Brooklyn area office of the American Red Cross in Greater New York, and AmeriCorps VISTA member Matthew Khaled, to create preparedness materials for Brooklyn residents.

Twenty-four adult students along with three staff members from the Association for Metroarea Autistic Children Inc. (AMAC) provided the Brooklyn area office of the American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) with extra hands to help create 3,000 public safety information packets that were distributed to Brooklyn residents at Red Cross events during the summer.  The packets, filled with tips and other information about how to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies such as fires and coastal storms, will continue to be distributed during September, which is National Preparedness Month.

"The students and staff members from AMAC were invaluable,” said AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers In Service To America) member Matthew Khaled.  AmeriCorps is a network of local, state and national service programs that annually connects more than 70,000 American volunteers with critical needs in education, public safety, health and the environment.

Jonathan Gabriel, director of the Brooklyn area office of the American Red Cross in Greater New York, added that he looks forward to AMAC's continued assistance to help the Red Cross communicate emergency preparedness information to New Yorkers. In Brooklyn through July 31 of this year, the Red Cross has responded to 551 fires and other emergencies while providing assistance (food, shelter and/or counseling) to 3,120 adults and children.

Since 1961, AMAC, which is located at 25 West 17 Street in Manhattan, has provided services to help people of all ages with autistic-spectrum disorders. Learn more by calling 212-645-5005 or at www.amac.org.