Tag Archives: American Red Cross Volunteers

As disasters increase, mental health support is critical

Posted on by
Reply

On World Mental Health Day please consider volunteering with the Red Cross

By Tim Poe, American Red Cross volunteer

October 10th is World Mental Health Day, which seeks to raise awareness of mental health issues around the world and to mobilize efforts in its support. This year’s theme is, “Make mental health and well-being for all a global priority.” This universality and humanity are part of the American Red Cross’s mission, and in my various capacities as a volunteer, I have glimpsed how needed and effective Red Cross mental health services are.

September 18, 2001. Arlington, Virginia. The Pentagon. Photo by Hector Emanuel/American Red Cross

As we deal with climate change, disasters of increasing frequency and severity, public health emergencies, and other issues, mental health is vital. And professional mental health is especially effective after a major disaster, as we are currently seeing in the aftermath of
Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.

Following a major disaster, Red Cross disaster mental health workers work in shelters and the community to help promote resiliency and good coping skills. They meet with people in need of short-term psychological care to help reduce stress and provide tools to cope. They can also help connect people with resources in the community for longer-term care when needed. Additional mental health professionals provide on-call phone support to those impacted as well as first responders.

Using Hurricane Ian as a recent example, on October 4th, a week after the hurricane made landfall, more than 2,000 people sought refuge in nearly 20 Red Cross and partner shelters across Florida. And to give scope of the tens of thousands in need of assistance, 142,000 meals were provided that day. Mental health professionals are part of a Red Cross team of over 1,500 currently supporting relief efforts in the area.

Northern Ohio volunteers Arden Tohill and Deb Day delivered hot meals yesterday in Cape Coral, FLA. They are traveling with Colorado volunteer Larry Ralston in the Emergency Response Vehicle that is normally used to respond to disasters in the Akron area. It’s one of nearly 120 ERVs being used to deliver food, water and relief supplies to the residents who have lost so much because of Hurricane Ian. 112,000 meals were provided yesterday alone, thanks to our partners with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.

Other disasters, like home fires, also seriously impact mental health. Each day, the Northern Ohio Disaster Response team assists with comfort and caring as well as ensuring those aided have food, shelter, and medicine. When further mental health assistance is needed, they work to provide it, and mental health professionals are a key part of the team.

As we reported last month, additional mental health volunteers are needed. Those eligible include currently licensed mental health professionals, current school psychologists and school counselors, current psychiatric nurses, and retired mental health professionals.

Gail Wernick, Regional Volunteer Services Officer, shared the need for mental health
professionals to volunteer with the Red Cross in Northern Ohio, “Every day, the Red Cross sees the heartbreak of people coping with the effects of natural disasters. The need for compassionate volunteers has never been greater. This October, in recognition of World Mental Health Day, we invite licensed mental health providers to join us to volunteer. You will use your professional skills to deliver mental health support, so others don’t have to face tough times alone.” To get started, visit www.redcross.org/volunteer.

The World Health Organization has more on World Mental Health Day here.

The Northern Ohio regional Red Cross site has links to explore volunteer opportunities, provide financial support, and give blood.

The 8-year-old veteran and other tales

Posted on by
1

Lighthearted anecdotes for National Tell a Joke Day

By Tim Poe, American Red Cross volunteer

“M-O-U-S-E!” An 8-year-old sang, making the toy I had given him dance on the table. His grandmother, whose apartment was one of several impacted by a fire the previous night, stood next to me. Two other American Red Cross members and I had spent the day in the building, assisting those affected by the disaster.

American Red Cross volunteer Tim Poe at the annual toy giveaway for families that experienced a home fire

As part of our assistance, I asked the grandmother questions that help us find resources for those impacted by a disaster. With each question, the child paused the doll’s dance to tell me how to spell names and something about the person.

“Are you or any member of your family a veteran?” I asked the grandmother. As she shook her head no, the child looked up, wide eyed, and shouted, “I’m a veteran!”

“No, you’re not, dear,” the grandmother said, patting his shoulder.

“Am too!” he shouted. “I don’t even like meat!”

The moment was a delight and much needed by all of us in the room.

In my various roles volunteering with the Red Cross, there have been many such lighthearted, fun moments. Today is National Tell a Joke Day, and while the Red Cross and its services are no joke, fun moments do happen. Here are a few.

American Red Cross volunteer Tim Poe at the annual toy giveaway for families that experienced a home fire

Before the pandemic, I took part in distributing toys for the holiday season for children whose families had been affected by disasters. Several tables were filled with toys, and we would help families pick something out. One child excitedly ran to all the tables, looking, but not selecting anything. He turned to me and asked, “Where are the drones?” The parents, alarmed, standing behind, subtly shook their heads but appeared relieved when I explained we didn’t have anything quite so fancy. After his initial disappointment, he seemed thrilled with a toy truck and crayon set.

One of the many benefits of being a Red Cross volunteer is working alongside unique, caring people with differing perspectives. Stories such as Christy Peters’ grandparents and tattoos emerge from our communications meetings.

This makes it a continuous learning experience, even about communicating. After a particularly strange sequence of events, and a fellow volunteer and I finished up and returned to a Red Cross vehicle. As I searched for words to begin processing the roller-coaster ride we had taken, she summed it up.

“Dude!” she said.

I can be verbose, but sometimes a single word is all that’s needed.

On another call, to an apartment where the fire was fortunately contained to a single unit and no one was hurt, an elderly lady emerged from her apartment, saw us, and stopped. “Mm hmm,” she said, pointing to a door. “That’s the one you want. And tell them never leave a candle burning and go out for a sandwich! Could’ve killed us all!” While to my knowledge the Red Cross has not offered this specific fire prevention tip, it’s good advice.

Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer
Posted by Ryan Lang, American Red Cross volunteer