Volunteers 11

As we get ready in ring in 2020, we're reflecting on some events from the past decade that brought together international aid workers, inspired innovative solutions to complex challenges, and showed the amazing capacity for resilience humans have in the face of disasters.

Disasters and emergencies can happen any day, which is why Red Cross volunteers are ready to meet urgent needs, even on Christmas Eve. 

 “Can you deploy for the Manitoba snowstorms?” The text arrived on Saturday while I was in a crisis management class.  By Monday, I was in the air, flying to Manitoba on my first response with the Canadian Red Cross!

“As the men were coming out of the trenches, the Red Cross met them with a cup of tea,” Skawski said. “It probably wasn’t very hot considering what was going on at the time, but they always met them with a cup of tea.”
 

“I help when I can, where I can” Andreschefski explained. “Outside of working hours it takes little time to go meet up with someone affected by a personal disaster like a house fire and make sure they have a roof over their head for the next couple of days and that they’ve got enough groceries. That takes maybe an hour or two out of my day.”
 

When Lynn Alcock received a call from the Red Cross to assist temporarily in the Health Equipment Loan Program, she immediately said yes. Nine years later, the former mental health counsellor still enjoys giving her time to help Yukoners. When asked what keeps her coming back, volunteer Cornelia Tegart says it is all about helping people.

Ann is one of our amazing volunteers in Fredericton, New Brunswick. She volunteers in the Emergency Management program helping her community in times of need and has assisted in public education through emergency preparedness presentations. In her own words, this is why she gives back.

The James family were one of many households in Ottawa impacted by the Great Ice Storm of 1998.  They managed through the many chilly nights without power but realized they could have been more prepared. Debbie made the decision, when the time was right, to join the Canadian Red Cross. When learning how to be better prepared for disasters, she also trained to be a responder to help others. 
On September 21, 2018, when tornadoes tore through the Ottawa/Gatineau region, Debbie had volunteered with the Red Cross for 13 years. In that time, she had responded to over 100 individual emergencies and supported Canadians impacted by  large-scale disasters like the Alberta Floods and Fort McMurray Fires.