Volunteers Help Red Cross
Accomplish Its Mission
When
strong tornadoes pounded the Midwest last
weekend, Red Cross volunteers from all over the
area came together to lend a hand, the latest
example of the valuable role that volunteers
play.
When
disaster strikes, the American Red Cross is
there providing food, shelter and comfort and
assisting families whose lives are impacted by
disaster. Much of this Red Cross work is
accomplished by a remarkable group of more than
60,000 disaster volunteers who are highly
trained and ready to respond when needed.
During National Volunteer Week, the Red
Cross recognizes these Midwest
volunteers and all volunteers who enable
the Red Cross to fulfill its mission.
One
Red Cross volunteer who responded to the
weekend tornadoes was Ed Schwartz from
Omaha’s Heartland Area Chapter. A
retired structural engineer, he became a
disaster volunteer after hearing about
what they did to help people in an
emergency. He has responded to house
fires in his own community, and joined
other disaster volunteers from Iowa and
Nebraska, distributing relief supplies
like work gloves, food, snacks and water
through the neighborhoods of Thurman,
Iowa, heavily damaged during the recent
tornadoes.
Another
was Mike Keim, a Disaster Action Team (DAT)
member who also hails from Omaha. Keim was sold
on the Red Cross many years ago when he was a
junior in high school, impressed by how the Red
Cross responded in times of disaster, both on a
local and a national level. “I have the
opportunity to help people during what could
very well be the worst day of their lives,” he
said. He was also a member of the team helping
folks in Thurman.
In
Creston, Iowa, Melva Hanke served as a Red Cross
caseworker. One woman came to the Red Cross
service center having lost everything to the
tornadoes. With her were her five-month-old
twins and three-year-old son. The Red Cross was
able to provide the young family with infant
supplies, clothes, food and other necessities.
“When people have absolutely nothing left, to be
able to give them some sort of hope, some sense
of normalcy back in their lives, it feels
amazing,” Hanke reflected.
In Fiscal
Year 2011, Red Cross disaster volunteers lent
their assistance at nearly 63,000 fires, almost
2,000 floods, more than 520 tornadoes, nearly
330 explosions and other hazardous material
accidents, and more than 160 major snow storms.
Throughout
the year, the Red Cross provided food and
shelter to nearly 75,000 people. More than
20,000 disaster workers opened about 490
shelters and served more than four million meals
and snacks.
BECOME A VOLUNTEER The Red
Cross has many different opportunities and
depends on its volunteers to accomplish its
mission. Volunteers make up more than 96 percent
of our workforce. Want to know more about
becoming a Red Cross volunteer? Contact your
local
chapter or visit the
Volunteer Match section of our web site to
learn more about ways you can help people
through the American Red Cross.
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AT&T is proud to have the local chapter of the American Red Cross as a sponsor of the Hurricane/Severe Weather Planning section of the AT&T Real Yellow Pages. This important section, located in the Community Information Pages at the front of the Real Yellow Pages, includes helpful information in the event of hurricanes, floods, tornados and severe thunderstorms. In addition, this section provides information on what to pack in a first aid kit, post-hazard checklist, repair checklist, submitting insurance claims and important phone numbers and contacts that all residents and businesses should know in the event of severe weather. As the most preferred yellow page directory in the area, the AT&T Real Yellow Pages is proud to partner with the American Red Cross in keeping our community informed and safe during the event of severe weather.
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