Volunteers work hard behind the scenes

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Doctor Martin Luther King Jr. once said "Everyone can be great because anyone can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't even have to make your subject and your verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace, a soul generated by love."

Vernon Countians have proved over and over again that they have hearts full of grace by the service they have provided this community, and many others throughout the country -- and beyond. Vernon Countians have responded to many disasters, to the World Trade Center after Sept. 11; to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, to Haiti after the massive earthquake in January.

The week of April 18 to 24 is National Volunteer Week, set aside to recognize the important work being done by those who give their time and skills to improve the lives of others. One such volunteer, Geri McInroy, works as a Disaster Action Team captain for the American Red Cross.

McInroy has been active in the Red Cross for three years, first serving on the board of directors then getting more hands on.

"We started these (disaster action teams) about two years ago," McInroy said. "We've gotten teams together, we're on call 24/7, 365 days a year. We carry a phone so we're accessible that whole time. We are called out to help with natural or man-made disasters. Around here we're talking more fires, flooding -- whatever might be needed. Basically we have teams and we can hopefully respond immediately."

A fast response is important McInroy said because the Red Cross can't duplicate the efforts of other agencies.

"Our services are best provided if we are called within the first few hours," McInroy said. "We can't duplicate -- if insurance comes through with something we can't duplicate the service. It's best if we get there first we can provide a place for the people to stay, a change of clothes, some food. If it was a fire or flood they might have lost glasses, dentures, they might have lost their medicines. We're there to try to help, and to comfort."

McInroy said it can be very emotional providing services to families who have lost so much but the rewards are worth it.

"You learn you have to be very compassionate and sometimes it's something of a tear-jerker out there but it's good, it's all good," McInroy said.

Being a captain means making sure calls are responded to and people have the resources they need.

"The DAT captain just basically makes sure all the teams are in place and they're going when they're called and have what they need," McInroy said. "Basically I'm on call 365 days a year."

In order to work more effectively the Red Cross coordinates with other relief agencies including the Local Emergency Planning Commission and local fire departments.

"The Red Cross coordinates with the Food Pantry in the emergency disaster simulations," McInroy said. "In addition to the disasters we go out and do canteening if we're asked. For example when the emergency people have their disaster simulations we go out and canteen that and bring them some drinks and just make sure people have a place to go to sit down and rest for a little bit. We try to refer people to the We Care Center, the Food Pantry, Loretta's Attic, trying to get people to the places they need to be. Obviously we work with the United Way, the United Way is a major component for us, they give us a lot of our funds. We do a lot of fund-raising and the fund-raising we do stays in Vernon County.

"We try to work closely with the LEPC and the local fire departments. We've tried to make contracts with shelters in different surrounding towns so if there is an emergency and we need to put people up for the night we can go to those designated places and have a place in that town so someone from Bronaugh wouldn't have to drive in to Nevada for a place to stay."

McInroy stressed the Red Cross would take volunteers on whatever basis they wanted to volunteer, be it an hour a week or an hour a month or several times a week, whatever a person is willing to give is welcomed and appreciated.

"Any Red Cross volunteer can devote whatever they want," McInroy said. "If they've got an hour we'll take it. We don't say you have to be there from three to five or anything like that. I probably spend more time because I'm basically watching, making sure things are done. I help with the volunteer meetings, we have those once a month for all our volunteers. We usually get together and do a pot-luck and maybe have a speaker come in. I help with the fund-raising, I'm on the board of directors so I do that, I'm not sure how much time I really do put in."

McInroy said the Red Cross provided training for the volunteers and the level depended on what the volunteer would be doing, and how much time they would devote to it.

I guess it depends what service they want to provide at the Red Cross," McInroy said. "We have everything from going into the office and answering the phone to the DAT teams. To become a Red Cross volunteer you fill out an application and get a background check and you take a little short introduction online. It's pretty simple, it tells you what the Red Cross is about and what they want you to do. Then you can have different levels of training. You don't have to come with any specific skills, they'll teach you, or if you come with skills that's great -- many of our volunteers do, we've got a great base."

The Red Cross office is located in the second floor of the Great Southern Bank building, 201 East Cherry and can be reached at (417) 667-5563. On the Web www.redcross.org

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