Red Cross providing disaster assistance and education
COSHOCTON – Since the beginning of this year, local American Red Cross disaster relief volunteers have responded to 11 fires involving 14 families.
“I did almost that many all of last year,” said Doug Caton, disaster relief volunteer lead and county supervisor. “I think we did 14 all of last year.”
When Red Cross volunteers respond to a fire, they provide the residents of the home with blankets, kits full of personal hygiene items, and funds on a prepaid card to replace clothing and for a two-night hotel stay if they do not have another housing option. Diapers can be provided to families with infants and toys are given to children.
The Red Cross, however, isn’t just on the scene of the fires. Volunteers also are doing prevention work to help prevent other disasters from occurring or being as bad.
Heather Walker, disaster relief volunteer, said you can call the Southeast Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross at 740-844-2017, tell them what county you reside in and ask for smoke alarms. Volunteers will come install them and the batteries for them that Caton said have a 10-year life span.
“We are reaching out to 4-H groups and other youth groups that need to do community service to help us out with this,” Walker said.
The Red Cross also is bringing its pillowcase program to the county, which is designed to teach children about being prepared for disasters such as fires, tornadoes and floods.
More volunteers are always welcome to help the Red Cross with its disaster relief programs. An online training, along with face-to-face instruction and a background check must be completed.
“Our workforce is 90 percent volunteers,” said Tim Callahan, disaster program manager for the Southeast Ohio Chapter of the American Red Cross. “They are invaluable. They respond whenever we need them whether it’s 3 a.m., a weekend or a holiday. When we need them they are there.”
For more information, visit www.redcross.org. The local Red Cross office is located at 416 Main St. and its phone number is 740-622-0228.
Category: Clubs & Organizations
