When asked what it’s like to help people who need to leave their homes during a disaster, Canadian Red Cross volunteer Shauna Stanley Seymour says it’s “like the Olympics of problem solving!”
A Red Cross volunteer for nine years, Shauna spends much of her time during an emergency response finding solutions. During one evacuation, “We helped an elderly man put a tiny battery back into his favourite watch. Another time, we helped little kids fill up water balloons and water guns for an afternoon of water play on the lawns,” she recalls.
There is no shortage of things to do during a large-scale emergency response. Some volunteers hand out supplies while others check on the well-being of those with special needs. Other volunteers plan activities to help fend off boredom as families wait to return home from the emergency shelter.
Red Cross volunteers also help reconnect families separated during a disaster. “A woman wanted to touch base with her father who was located in a shelter elsewhere in the country,” says Shauna. “The Red Cross team organized a phone call so they could have a visit.”
Support from volunteers is critical in ensuring that everyone receives the help they need when they need it most. “In our opinion, every Red Cross volunteer deserves a gold medal for the work they do,” says Georgiana Schuring, Red Cross Operations Manager for Emergency Management in Saskatchewan.
You too can be a part of the solution. Find out more about volunteering with the Red Cross at
redcross.ca/volunteer.