Keeping smiles on kids' faces: Red Cross volunteers entertain children at shelters for evacuated people

Fabrice does card tricks for children at Saskatoon shelter

Red Cross volunteer Fabrice Vanhoutte loves putting a smile on children’s faces. So, he has plenty of tricks up his sleeve for the young people in a Saskatoon shelter.
 
“If I see a kid who is upset, I don’t necessarily go right up to them but I stay nearby and play my mouth organ or start showing a card trick,” says Vanhoutte.

“It helps calm them and lets them come to me. I want to show them that I care to listen and get to know them. I’m not just there to provide items and services.”
 

Red Cross volunteer Fabrice Vanhoutte

Saskatchewan families affected by forest fires in the province’s northern region have been away from home for about three weeks now. Keeping kids busy is an important task at the evacuation shelters. Teams of Red Cross volunteers are dedicated to organizing recreation and activities for them. 

At the Saskatoon shelter, children can play with toys and activities. Many are drawing and colouring, or going on outings to a nearby lake, the zoo or a carnival. Volunteers are organizing mini-stick hockey and baseball games. Some children have learned to play soccer from a local team.

Vanhoutte, who is from Quebec, says he is really enjoying the experience. 

“There is nothing better than making a kid smile,” he says.
 
The Canadian Red Cross is responding to the wildfires in Saskatchewan on behalf of the provincial government. To date, Red Cross has provided emergency assistance to about 10,000 people from 54 communities.