When it comes to community charitable organizations, the DeKalb County Chapter of the American Red Cross is the “pacesetter and benchmark for excellence in nonprofit management and human service delivery,” according to the chapter’s Web site. However, recently the Red Cross has been experiencing a need for more community members to step up and help out.

“We definitely need more volunteers,” said Red Cross volunteer Tracy Lesiak. “We’re not only looking for people to respond to disasters, but also to do office work and call people to do emergency response and background checks. We’re looking for all types of people.”

In an e-mail from marketing coordinator Rochelle Cripe, she explained that most of the current 64 regular volunteers in the county serve on Red Cross’ Disaster Action Team (DAT), which responds to emergencies like fires, floods and storm damage. The team is on call at all times and responds to one or two calls a month.

When the DAT is not on call, it prepares comfort kits containing toiletries for victims of disasters, take emergency response classes, take inventory of shelter supplies and provide First Aid at community events.

“I’m on the disaster team and have responded to four fires as well as the flood from last year when we opened the shelter for the victims,” said Lesiak.

Lesiak has also participated in classes given by the Red Cross during her process of becoming a volunteer.

“I’ve taken basic orientation, which covers what [the Red Cross] is and what they represent,” Lesiak said. “I’ve done courses to be on the disaster team like sheltering, client services and safety. There are some basics you have to take, and the others are supplemental for responding to a disaster.”

In order to become involved with the Red Cross, volunteer coordinator Jean Fitzpatrick explains that there is a process to become a volunteer.

“We prefer [that potential volunteers] come to a one hour orientation we hold twice a month, every month,” Fitzpatrick said. “After that, I check references for people and do a background check and then I try to find the right place for that individual.”

Fitzpatrick, who has been with the Red Cross since last December, said her work with the organization fills a void for her.

“I’m retired and I’m a volunteer, volunteer coordinator, so I do not get paid for my position,” said Fitzpatrick. “I love working for the Red Cross. It’s something that really filled a niche for me.”

For more information, call the DeKalb County Red Cross at 815-756-7339 or visit the office at 2727 Sycamore Road, Suite 2A.

Upcoming orientations include Sunday, April 19 (DAT only), 7 to 8 p.m.; Saturday, April 25 (all positions), 10 to 11 a.m. These orientations are located at the DeKalb County Red Cross.

Source: Rochelle Cripe