Guest Post by Kathryn Dunmore, Red Cross Blogger
In times of disaster, such as the recent flooding in Northern Ontario, Red Cross volunteers are almost immediately on the ground helping those in need.
When flooding forced the evacuation of approximately 1,500 people from Kashechewan on May 10, more than 200 Canadian Red Cross volunteers deployed to assist those forced from their homes. Disaster response volunteers immediately left their own homes to help on site in host communities, such as Thunder Bay, Cornwall and Kapuskasing.
Volunteers Bill Behse and Sharon Bolen were two disaster response volunteers deployed in Thunder Bay to help ensure evacuated families had necessities while in the city’s temporary shelter.
Bill travelled several hours from his home in southern Ontario to Thunder Bay to spend eight days helping organize and replenish supplies needed by families, from shampoo and soap to diapers and baby formula.
“We had approximately 600 people in two facilities,” said Bill. “We were basically managing client care services such as hygiene items. Everybody was very polite and I was very impressed with how people were conducting themselves.”
Bill started volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross five years ago and, in this deployment, he helped pilot a new logistics procedure incorporating an electronic process to improve efficiency.
“We use the strength of technology to enhance communication and better monitor usage of items,” he explained. “In each host facility, we had a room dedicated to giving out supplies and I would manage the flow of stock and inventory. I was able to see the volunteers in the store do their magic, they were so good at it.”
Sharon was one of the volunteers who helped manage the ‘store’, the room where people came to pick up items.
“Families can’t bring everything they need with them when they evacuate so we provided them with supplies,” said Sharon.
Sharon started volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross two years ago for this very reason: to help those in need.
“I do it because I’m healthy and have what I need but there are times when people need assistance,” she explained. “I have the time to do it so why not. Until a couple years ago, I didn’t know everything Red Cross does but now I know what the organization does to assist people in times of crisis.”
The Canadian Red Cross thanks these dedicated volunteers.