Red Cross Volunteers Want More to Join in Relief Efforts
By: WROC-TV
Updated: September 25, 2012
Red Cross disaster volunteers gathered in Rochester for a roundtable discussion Tuesday. They spoke about their recent experiences helping Hurricane Isaac victims and the need for more volunteer help.
"There's not anyone who wouldn't qualify to a be a volunteer in the Red Cross if they have the desire and the willingness to put in the time and the effort," says Debbie Craft of Penfield.
Debbie and John Craft drove a mobile feeding truck in Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac.
"The number of people that came from all parts of the country to help in one localized area, a few thousand people who experienced the disaster, was amazing," Debbie explains.
Dr. Alvani Santos is a retired cardiologist. He assists with victims medical needs.
"They run out of their medications or they have to leave home in a hurry so they don't bring even their own medical equipment, so our job there is to assess their needs and refer them to local health facilities," Santos says.
Volunteers say they're dedicated to helping victims through the initial phase of recovery. The work can be challenging, but also life affirming.
"Even though they had a tremendous amount of destruction and their homes had been in many cases ruined they still had a good spirit that was positive," John Craft states.
The Red Cross is always looking for new volunteers, not just for natural disasters, but here at home as well.
"There's not anyone who wouldn't qualify to a be a volunteer in the Red Cross if they have the desire and the willingness to put in the time and the effort," says Debbie Craft of Penfield.
Debbie and John Craft drove a mobile feeding truck in Louisiana after Hurricane Isaac.
"The number of people that came from all parts of the country to help in one localized area, a few thousand people who experienced the disaster, was amazing," Debbie explains.
Dr. Alvani Santos is a retired cardiologist. He assists with victims medical needs.
"They run out of their medications or they have to leave home in a hurry so they don't bring even their own medical equipment, so our job there is to assess their needs and refer them to local health facilities," Santos says.
Volunteers say they're dedicated to helping victims through the initial phase of recovery. The work can be challenging, but also life affirming.
"Even though they had a tremendous amount of destruction and their homes had been in many cases ruined they still had a good spirit that was positive," John Craft states.
The Red Cross is always looking for new volunteers, not just for natural disasters, but here at home as well.
