Community
Local Red Cross officials featured in ad campaign

May 3, 2008

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The American Red Cross needs volunteers — always.

And the Terrell Red Cross office has a particular need.

“We are desperate for disaster action team leaders,” Mr. Leonard said.

The national office hopes a new ad campaign will bring much needed volunteers and donations to the national organization and local chapters. The campaign was unveiled last week to celebrate National Volunteer week.

The ad featuring Mr. Leonard is an appeal for donations. Ms. Conrad’s showcases CPR training.

“The ads all feature local people” from area Red Cross offices, Mr. Leonard said.

Mr. Leonard, who heads a disaster action team in addition to other Red Cross duties, said the ads will make people more aware of what the organization does and possibly bring in more volunteers. Locally, the greatest need is for disaster team leaders and members.

Ideally, the county should have eight active teams, instead there are two.

“That (eight) would pretty much cover it where a team is on duty once a month,” he said.

Disaster team work can be intense. Volunteers sign up to either cover a weekend or be available during the week. They are issued a cell phone and must be able to go to a disaster scene, usually a fire, at a moment’s notice.

There they help comfort the family and distribute aid, such as vouchers for motels. They also are there to help firefighters with water, and if needed, food. The Terrell office works in cooperation with another volunteer organization made-up mostly of firefighters who go to fires to support their colleagues.

“We will go for streaks – there may three weeks where we don’t have any fires and days where I’ve had three in a day,” he said. “But that’s real rare.”

Volunteers start as trainees, work their way up to team member and eventually team leader. All the work can be local or team members can eventually work for national disaster teams.

In February, Mr. Leonard worked with a team out of Clinton, Ark. “We drove the Ozarks looking for people who needed help.”

For more information or to volunteer call 972-563-1030.


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