By Doug Bardwell, American Red Cross Volunteer

During disasters, we often see the best in our neighbors – caring, volunteering and donating to help alleviate human suffering. Northeast Ohio has long been noted for its generosity, and during the recent spate of disasters, the Greater Cleveland Chapter has the cards and letters to prove it.

Ever since Hurricane Harvey hit Texas, one woman has sent in an envelope each and every day with one dollar and a personal note. Some are marked for Harvey, while others are for the California fires.  Each note offers thanks to the Red Cross for the services we offer and asks for prayers for the victims, the first responders as well as for her own full-time employment search.

Another woman, moved with compassion, but without the means to contribute, assembled an envelope full of coupons she had collected. She mailed those into our office, with a request to pass them on to any of the victims trying to get back on their feet.

In October, a woman called, wanting directions to our office. She had a cash donation and wanted to make sure it got into the right hands to aid in general disaster relief.  Neither she nor her husband appeared to be people of means, but they felt compelled to help and had withdrawn $800 from her husband’s postal service retirement account.

And last month, yet one more example of how our community comes together to help others in need. The ladies of the Fourth Wednesday Bridge Group wanted to help and sent in a collective donation from all their members to aid the people of Puerto Rico.

There’s no donation too small. As Giving Tuesday approaches, log on to https://www.redcross.org/donate/donation to make a one-time or monthly donation.