This week’s Manitoba volunteer profile focuses on Linda Kitz, who is from the Brandon area.
Linda has been volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross for two years in various capacities, including working in the Brandon office and with the Personal Disaster Assistance team and the Emergency Response Team in western Manitoba.
A retiree, Linda balances being a Red Cross volunteer with looking after her three grandchildren, who are all under the age of six.
This past year, Linda worked with the Canadian Red Cross response that supported 7,000 individuals who were forced to leave their First Nation communities due to forest fires. Many of those evacuees stayed in hotels in Brandon and were supported by tireless volunteers such as Linda.
“I am proud of the help I was able to give to people affected by fires,” she said. “What I did was a very small part of what the Red Cross does during an evacuation, but it felt good to be able to meet some of the people staying in the hotels, knowing that I was making a difference.”
The Canadian Red Cross is looking to grow its team in Manitoba and has started its #HeroesWanted campaign, calling on local heroes who want to help their neighbours in need to become volunteers.
Linda noted the positive benefits of volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross.
“Volunteers receive a lot of training and gain confidence in themselves when they are put in situations that test their knowledge. Being part of a team is a bonus when you volunteer with the Red Cross. The Red Cross staff work alongside you and help you every step of the way. I have met many people through the Red Cross.”
The Canadian Red Cross is looking for more dedicated local heroes like Linda to become volunteers. If you are interested in helping, go to www.redcross.ca/HeroesWantedMB, email vrs@redcross.ca or call 204-982-7330 for more details.