Volunteer says helping others worth it
Published: October 14, 2005
A Red Cross disaster relief worker says it’s nice to take a hot shower and eat home-cooked meals with his family but he knows it won’t last.
Gerald Newman went to Baton Rouge, La., after hurricane Katrina destroyed much of the U.S. Gulf Coast in September.
He returned to Fredericton recently but is already making preparations for a second tour to the disaster zone.
Newman said Canadian Red Cross workers have plenty to eat and adequate sleeping arrangements but nothing tops being with family, friends and home cooking.
“Our families are a very important part of our volunteer work,” Newman said.
“They support us and pray for us,” he said Wednesday.
On Saturday, Newman joins an elite group of Canadian Red Cross volunteers for some specialized training in Ottawa.
After that, the volunteers will be dispatched to the Gulf Coast to continue providing assistance to U.S. disaster relief officials, including the American Red Cross.
“Some days the temperature reached 107 F,” Newman said. “I can’t take a lot of heat, and that was difficult.”
Newman said he and other volunteers were sheltered in churches and sanctuaries.
“We’d stay where ever we could find a space. There were about 135 people in my shelter and we ate well.
“The food was prepared by the local church groups.”
Newman said the specialized training in Ottawa will involve logistics.
“We will be trained to deal with large-scale disasters, how to organize and execute emergency operations and how to gather resources,” he said.
“The training will give us a better knowledge of what’s expected of us.”
In September, Newman worked with local disaster volunteers in Baton Rouge.
He was responsible for bringing in large groups of people for various assignments such as nursing or warehouse duty.
Newman said helping in the disaster zone was difficult but not without its rewards.
“I remember a young woman I met in Houston,” Newman said. “She was leaving New Orleans and going to Minnesota.”
The young woman walked up to him and asked if he was working with the Red Cross.
“I told her I was with the Canadian Red Cross in Atlantic Canada,” he said. “She was surprised and pleased we had come all the way from Canada to help.”
Newman said the woman gave him a package to pass along to disaster survivors.
“She started crying and wanted to make sure I said thanks to all Canadians helping relief efforts,” he said. “And that’s about what we have been getting from everyone we talk to/
“They are so very grateful for our help,” he said. “I haven’t met anyone who didn’t have a thank you for us.”
Newman said the expression of gratitude makes the relief efforts meaningful. He said it’s hard for volunteers working in a disaster environment and they need the support of family and friends.
“Canadians are providing a lot of help to the victims,” he said. “Keep it up,” he said. “We need lots of prayers and money.”
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