Red Cross offers ways to get involved
Shocked by the news of yesterday’s disaster, many students search for ways to bring relief to those more than 2,000 miles away.
Although many may feel powerless, there are ample opportunities for volunteers to help, said Roxana King, the Executive Director of the Cache County American Red Cross.
“The community has been reawakened for us,” King said.
In the wake of this tragic situation, citizens have been given the opportunity to open their eyes and think things through for the present and future of their families and community, King said.
Just one of the immediate ways students can aid in this disaster is by donating blood at one of the many American Red Cross blood drives set up throughout next week.
The Lundstrom Student Center will host a blood drive Sept. 17 from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Another way to help is to volunteer. The American Red Cross of Cache County needs volunteers, King said.
Finally, citizens and students can donate money by either dropping off envelopes or addressing them to The American Red Cross of Cache County Disaster Services located at 1115 N. 200 East.
The best way to serve the country or community is to become better prepared, King said. Citizens are being turned away by disaster aid services in New York City because they either have no training or certification to do what is needed.
“If we’re not trained, educated or prepared, we cannot help,” King said.
The Cash County American Red Cross offers many preparatory classes such as CPR, First Aid and Automatic External Defoliator.
The American Red Cross also provides numerous internships to students in diverse areas such as accounting, information systems, data base entry and political science.
Each individual can become prepared for any disaster situation, King said. By doing this, members of the community are “put in the position to have the skills to support life,” she said.
For more information on emergency preparedness classes, blood drives and volunteering, call the Cache County American Red Cross at 752-1125.