Canadians Making a Difference in New York
Since the September 11 attacks on the World Trade Center, Canadian Red Cross has sent more than 100 members of its Disaster Response Team (DRT) to support American Red Cross relief programs in New York. These highly trained DRT members joined a team of thousands of American Red Cross volunteers working in mass care, logistics, health services, family services, volunteer training, staffing and administration. The following are just a few stories from the Canadians who worked in New York:
Ten year commemoration of 9/11
It has been ten years since the devastating 9/11 terrorist attacks in the United States. The Red Cross is extremely grateful to the thousands of volunteers and staff who worked around the clock to support those affected by this tragedy.
Ground Zero - Five Days After the Tragic Event
Bernard Barrett, a public relations consultant from Aylmer, Quebec was the first DRT member to arrive at Ground Zero on September 16th. What struck Barrett the most was the presence of the Red Cross and the recognition they had in New York. "When I arrived, there were 7,000 Red Cross workers in New York, of which 6,000 were volunteers and from all states of the union," says Barrett. More»
Canadians Invade New York!
"Excellent. Outstanding," American Red Cross Officer Mary Corlett says when asked how Canadians have integrated into the World Trade Center (WTC) disaster relief operation. "There is no question about it - we wouldn't have been able to keep our function going without the help of Canadians." More»
A Different Perspective on the World Trade Center Tragedy
Rosemary, Alberta, population: 350. But now it's 349 since Corrina Isaac's been volunteering with the Red Cross in New York City. Isaac, an administrator with the Village of Rosemary, has been volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross' Disaster Response Team in southern Alberta for the past year. But coming to New York to work on the World Trade Centre disaster relief effort has given her a much broader perspective of how the Red Cross helps people affected by a large disaster. More»
A First Hand Account of Working at Ground Zero
Bonnie Kearns is a registered nurse from Sombra, Ontario, who works at the Sarnia Lambton Hospitals Group and volunteers with Canadian Red Cross. She spent three weeks in New York working as a health services technician in American Red Cross shelters that provide comfort, solace and encouragement to rescue workers at Ground Zero. More»
The Enormity of the Disaster Hits Home for Edmonton Firefighter
Todd Weiss from Edmonton served for three weeks at a Respite Centre operating out of the deserted Marriott Financial Center Hotel on the southwest corner of Ground Zero. The centre provides meals, medical care and a place to rest for the construction workers, firefighters, police, soldiers and other workers on-site. More»
New York Volunteers Show Compassion, Generosity and Unrivaled Dedication
Peterborough native Brenda McCarrell never thought she would be interviewing doctors and lawyers from New York on her first American Red Cross assignment. Nor did she think she would be answering a New York volunteer hotline. But she did all that and more. More»
Small Steps Towards Healing Through Red Cross Volunteer Work
Sonya Hazell is used to responding to emergencies - in Hamilton, Ontario, that is. A Red Cross volunteer for close to 20 years, Hazell has seen her share of disasters - but nothing comes close to what she would see in New York City. More»
Every Role is Important to the Team
Randy Smith, a Red Cross disaster services volunteer from Terrace, BC, served four weeks at a Respite Centre located at ground zero in New York. As a coordinator for this centre, Randy was responsible a shift that helped it ongoing operate for twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. More»
The First and Last Impression for Volunteers
Alvina Berggren, a volunteer from Fort Nelson, BC, spent three and a half weeks at staffing headquarters in Brooklyn, where she was responsible for the "in" and "out" processing of all volunteers deployed. Currently a member of the Northern BC/Yukon Regional Council, Alvina has a wealth of experience with disaster services. More»
A Small Measure of Help and Comfort
Karen Charles spent more than two weeks coordinating local volunteer efforts at a Red Cross service centre in New York, just eight blocks from Ground Zero. More»
Providing Many Degrees of Expertise
Rob Ottaway, a native of Stoney Creek, Ontario, spent three weeks in New York helping the American Red Cross with logistics coordination. Ottaway, who works as a firefighter in Brampton, Ontario, applied his expertise in a Red Cross mass care kitchen in Brooklyn which provides 18,000 snacks and meals a day to rescue workers and displaced people. More»
Burlington Trio Lends a Hand
Sergio Bollito, his wife Judy Barlett and Ella Davidson, all of Burlington, Ontario, spent three weeks in New York stationed at the American Red Cross headquarters. The three volunteers applied their skills in disaster response to support the respite centres for workers digging at Ground Zero, nine service centres for affected people and an assistance centre for family members of those who were lost. More»
An Extraordinary Experience
By Louise-Julie Brassard
It goes without saying that working for the Red Cross in New York last fall was an extraordinary experience on many fronts. I believe wholeheartedly that the thing that impressed me the most was the amazing collaboration established between the volunteers. More»
A Newfoundlander Heeds the Call for Help
In New York, Paul was placed in the outreach section of the Family Services Department, working mainly at Ground Zero. Each day, she interviewed people who were evacuated from their apartments in the area. Her main task was to help these people who still had many concerns and worries, prepare to move back. More»
