By Jean-Sébastien Pariseau, Communications Advisor and Martine Lalonde, volunteer for the Canadian Red Cross
On March 20, the Canadian Red Cross hosted its 20th annual fundraising event at New City Gas, bringing together more than 325 guests for an evening filled with emotion and generosity. Among the highlights of the evening, Martine Lalonde, a volunteer from the greater Montreal area, touched the hearts of all present.
Considered the largest fundraising event for the Red Cross in Canada, this annual evening gave her the opportunity to share an emotional testimonial and highlight the crucial role of volunteers who help people following a personal disaster.
So, after 43 years with the Mouvement Desjardins, I registered on the Canadian Red Cross website and was offered a new mission:
So far, I have responded to 49 disasters involving fires, watermain breaks, floods and evacuations.
Each response has its own particularities, and believe me, for those affected by a disaster, it’s very difficult.
I introduce myself and inform her that I will help her find somewhere to stay for a few days. From what I can see, she can’t be more than 25 years old. I suggest that we call her parents to inform them of what has happened. No reaction. I wait a bit… She decides to call her sister, so I hand her my phone.
She talks to her, informs her of the situation and after giving me my phone back, she bursts into inconsolable tears. The firefighter on the bus and I wrap her in three more blankets, and I stay next to her.
Finalement, les ambulanciers viennent l’évaluer et décident de l’amener à l’hôpital, car elle avait inhalé de la fumée. En fin de journée, je suis rappelée pour aller à l’hôpital. C’est encourageant de voir qu’elle va mieux. Elle en sortira vêtue de vêtements fournit par des bénévoles de l’hôpital, ainsi qu’une adresse pour s’héberger temporairement et une carte de crédit prépayée pour s’alimenter, le tout offert par la Croix-Rouge.
In December, a serious fire broke out in a boarding house, and residents weren't able to go back to their room for several days, maybe even weeks.
When I step on the Montreal Fire Department bus, I see nine clearly vulnerable people. However, it’s apparent to me they are a tight-knit group, and I see that they support each other.
In the group is a lady, Mrs. D (in her eighties), who has lived in one of the rooms for 42 years. She does not see well and is deaf. I have to explain what services we offer, and must speak slowly and be mindful of my tone so as not to rush her. She gives me a sign that she understands. Imagine, she’s completely out of her comfort zone…
There is also a man sitting there. He can’t speak, he’s had a tracheostomy, but his eyes are ever so kind. He wants to talk to me. I give him a piece of paper to write on. He writes I AM SO DISCOURAGED! My heart goes out to him, I take his hand and tell him that we will take good care of everyone and that there we’ll explore solutions for the future.
I go to each of them, one by one. They have no family. They are their family.
In order not to separate them, I make sure they are all relocated to the same hotel. I also give them information on longer-term resources and contact information of organizations that can help them find housing, furniture, etc.
The firefighter on the bus takes them to the hotel. I am relieved, they are together.
In closing, I just want to say this: the people who are affected by disaster are very grateful to the Red Cross. They are often surprised by what we offer them, and sometimes they even ask me what are the terms and conditions for repaying the Red Cross. And I’m happy to reassure them and tell them they don’t have to pay us back, because the money comes from… donors!”
By sharing her experience, Martine gave a voice to the thousands of volunteers who, like her, are there when people go through some of the most difficult times in their lives. Her testimonial moved the audience and was a powerful reminder of the importance of community support and volunteer involvement. Thank you to Martine and all the volunteers for their courage, compassion and unwavering solidarity.
Discover our volunteering opportunities today and join a humanitarian movement that is changing lives.
On March 20, the Canadian Red Cross hosted its 20th annual fundraising event at New City Gas, bringing together more than 325 guests for an evening filled with emotion and generosity. Among the highlights of the evening, Martine Lalonde, a volunteer from the greater Montreal area, touched the hearts of all present.
Considered the largest fundraising event for the Red Cross in Canada, this annual evening gave her the opportunity to share an emotional testimonial and highlight the crucial role of volunteers who help people following a personal disaster.
Testimonial by Martine Lalonde, Canadian Red Cross Volunteer
“When I retired, I knew I would get into volunteering and that I wanted to serve people.So, after 43 years with the Mouvement Desjardins, I registered on the Canadian Red Cross website and was offered a new mission:
Responding to Help People Affected by Emergencies and Disasters.
I have been a proud volunteer with the Canadian Red Cross for two and a half years now, and I’m part of a great team of 85 volunteers assigned to the Island of Montreal.So far, I have responded to 49 disasters involving fires, watermain breaks, floods and evacuations.
Each response has its own particularities, and believe me, for those affected by a disaster, it’s very difficult.
Stories of Courage, Resilience, and Humanity
It’s early morning in November, and it’s cold outside. Two apartments are evacuated because of a house fire. A tenant is taken to the hospital by ambulance, and on the bus provided by the Montreal Fire Department, a young woman is wrapped in a Red Cross blanket. All she has on is a flimsy nightgown... no coat, no shoes, no phone. She knows she won’t be able to go back to her apartment. She is silent… alone…I introduce myself and inform her that I will help her find somewhere to stay for a few days. From what I can see, she can’t be more than 25 years old. I suggest that we call her parents to inform them of what has happened. No reaction. I wait a bit… She decides to call her sister, so I hand her my phone.
She talks to her, informs her of the situation and after giving me my phone back, she bursts into inconsolable tears. The firefighter on the bus and I wrap her in three more blankets, and I stay next to her.
Finalement, les ambulanciers viennent l’évaluer et décident de l’amener à l’hôpital, car elle avait inhalé de la fumée. En fin de journée, je suis rappelée pour aller à l’hôpital. C’est encourageant de voir qu’elle va mieux. Elle en sortira vêtue de vêtements fournit par des bénévoles de l’hôpital, ainsi qu’une adresse pour s’héberger temporairement et une carte de crédit prépayée pour s’alimenter, le tout offert par la Croix-Rouge.
In December, a serious fire broke out in a boarding house, and residents weren't able to go back to their room for several days, maybe even weeks.
When I step on the Montreal Fire Department bus, I see nine clearly vulnerable people. However, it’s apparent to me they are a tight-knit group, and I see that they support each other.
In the group is a lady, Mrs. D (in her eighties), who has lived in one of the rooms for 42 years. She does not see well and is deaf. I have to explain what services we offer, and must speak slowly and be mindful of my tone so as not to rush her. She gives me a sign that she understands. Imagine, she’s completely out of her comfort zone…
There is also a man sitting there. He can’t speak, he’s had a tracheostomy, but his eyes are ever so kind. He wants to talk to me. I give him a piece of paper to write on. He writes I AM SO DISCOURAGED! My heart goes out to him, I take his hand and tell him that we will take good care of everyone and that there we’ll explore solutions for the future.
I go to each of them, one by one. They have no family. They are their family.
In order not to separate them, I make sure they are all relocated to the same hotel. I also give them information on longer-term resources and contact information of organizations that can help them find housing, furniture, etc.
The firefighter on the bus takes them to the hotel. I am relieved, they are together.
In closing, I just want to say this: the people who are affected by disaster are very grateful to the Red Cross. They are often surprised by what we offer them, and sometimes they even ask me what are the terms and conditions for repaying the Red Cross. And I’m happy to reassure them and tell them they don’t have to pay us back, because the money comes from… donors!”
By sharing her experience, Martine gave a voice to the thousands of volunteers who, like her, are there when people go through some of the most difficult times in their lives. Her testimonial moved the audience and was a powerful reminder of the importance of community support and volunteer involvement. Thank you to Martine and all the volunteers for their courage, compassion and unwavering solidarity.
Become a Canadian Red Cross volunteer
At the Canadian Red Cross, there are all kinds of ways to serve your community as a volunteer, whether it’s by helping disaster victims during our emergency responses, sitting on committees, supporting client services or giving us a hand with our administrative work.Discover our volunteering opportunities today and join a humanitarian movement that is changing lives.
