Volunteers are the Red Cross

    More than 200 volunteers worked to fulfill our mission to the people of Athens County this past year.  A few of their volunteer activities: staffing information  tables at Lowes Safety Fair and Wal-Mart's Safety Day, selling coupon books at Elder-Beerman, walking in Havar's Walk Around the Neighborhood, driving chapter vehicles in parades, helping with fundraising events including the golf outing and yard sale. Volunteers also teach first aid or CPR classes, present disaster safety information to senior groups, bake for many bloodmobiles and the auction, staff HamFest, participate in disaster drills for partner agencies, help with our Memorial Park Dedication, pass out information and candy for Trick or Treat night, mow our grass, take our trash to the curb, provide on-site security after hours, keep track of our finances, change light bulbs in our building, clean our facilities, haul cases of water for several stations of volunteer firefighters, sweep our roof so it doesn't leak, and SO MUCH MORE!

     When a fire, flood, severe storm or other disaster causes a family to lose most or all of their home and possessions, our 75 Disaster Services volunteers are ready to help. Several of our volunteers have been able to travel to other parts of the country to help people in neighboring states when disaster strikes.

   The health and safety program continues with several data entry and card preparation volunteers, many instructors and our coordinator, Jane Patton.

   Our volunteers in the Blood program, close to 45 of them, keep our blood program growing to collect the needed blood for the Central Ohio region. This involves personally calling donors, setting up the site, moving tables, chairs and equipment, purchasing and serving food for the canteen, greeting, registering and escorting donors, cleaning up the site and driving the collected blood to the center in Columbus.

   And let's not forget our blood donors, who are also volunteers. Approximately 2,000 individuals have given blood here at home in the past two years. To top it off, many of our blood donors are also volunteers for the blood program, doing double duty and making a real difference in people's lives.

   Twelve or more office volunteers keep the hub humming by answering the phones, filing our paperwork, greeting our guests, sorting, stuffing and mailing our newsletters, and doing the day to day chores. Remove even one of these 200 volunteers for whatever reason and the work continues to go on volunteers will pitch in and help. We also have a couple of scout groups and church and spontaneous groups who have helped us this past year. They toted items for our Chinese auction and yard sale, filled comfort kits and snack packs.  They are ready to help when called. Our Ohio University Red Cross club, currently numbering about 15, also is ready at our call to drive our chapter vehicle in  parades, staff an information table at the Student involvement Fair, staff our bloodmobiles on campus, collecting money with our donation cans or whatever is needed. They are a tremendous support to us. Our  Board of Directors, who are volunteers, carry a great responsibility.  The Board is assigned to set the direction of our chapter and members rise to that challenge.

So without our many dedicated and caring volunteers.  where would we be? Most likely in a far less efficient and helpful state. THANK YOU to each of you, volunteers.  We truly couldn't do any of this without you.  For more information, please call the chapter at 593-5273 or e-mail the Volunteer Coordinator at
volunteer@athensohredcross.org

Large Disasters

Several volunteers from the Athens County area took part in the relief efforts following the 2005 Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma. Several others are waiting for assignments in the continuing relief efforts. Volunteers were not just deployed to provide direct services in the affected areas, but were also needed to staff large call centers like the one in California or logistics warehouses in Texas.

Volunteers may assess damages, staff shelters, answer phones, serve food, distribute cleanup kits and offer help in the way of shelter, food, clothing and emotional support.

Students from Ohio University were critical in helping with the cleanup in Amesville and other areas hard hit by the floods. We also worked closely with church groups who offered hot meals to workers and flood victims alike for a period of several weeks.

Yes, we are ready, day or night, to respond to a small or large disaster. But more volunteers are needed for every service, and to add to our service to the people of our county. If you would like to consider being a volunteer, call us a 740-593-5273. Our regular hours are 9 to 4 weekdays, but volunteers can come in at other times to find out about our services, by appointment.

Find out how you and your organization can make a difference!

Call us at 740.593.5273 or E-Mail: volunteer@athensohredcross.org.

You can also visit us at 100 South May Avenue off East State Street (Athens).