* This week is National Volunteer Week, a time for the Canadian Red Cross to recognize our dedicated volunteers who donate their time and talents from coast to coast . Over the course of the week we will use this blog to share stories about our volunteers and the amazing work they do --a small sample of the outstanding individuals across the country.
When I think of Christmas Eve, I think of wrapping presents and other last-minute errands. Ottawa branch president David Fraser spent Christmas Eve 2009 doing something else – helping someone in need in his community.
That day, David and another volunteer comforted an elderly couple who had lost their home, and everything in it, during a devastating early morning fire at an apartment building. Red Cross provides support - such as clothing, shelter, food and emotional support - up to 72-hours to families forced from their homes due to a fire or flood.
“They looked at me, and looked at each and other, and said ‘I guess it was meant for us to start over again’,” he says.
A year later, he visited the couple to find they had bounced back from the disaster. They were so grateful to the volunteers who took time out of their busy holiday schedules to help them in their moment of need.
Hearing the words “thank you” is what motivates David to do what he does. He has spent the past five years helping others in his community, whenever and wherever needed, as a volunteer with the Red Cross. On top of volunteering with disaster management, he is also involved with humanitarian issues promotion and fund development.