02 September, 2017
Eight months into her new job at the American Red Cross, Mary Lynn Foster is taking on her first major humanitarian relief effort as she heads to Texas to help out in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey. Volunteering with the Red Cross was a step inspired by her grandmother and the trip is something Charla couldn't do without a little help.
"By the time you get done two weeks, you're pretty well drained, and you need to go back home and get some things taken care of", Amell said.
"Especially during times of disaster, people see what's happening in Texas and our hearts all go out to them".
And she would know-Rosalind lived through the flood that hit Kansas City in 1993.
Officials say they are in dire need of more volunteers and are calling on anyone who has volunteered with the Red Cross in the past or has experience as a mental health professional to step up and help the victims of this catastrophic natural disaster.
"I left out of Burlington, originally headed to Houston, but there were no flights at all going to Houston, so they diverted us here". Last night, more than 42,000 people sought refuge in 258 Red Cross and partner shelters across Texas.
"I'm the only one that's now active working on the disaster side", says Harrison.
"For you to help at 100 percent, you have to be trained".
The Red Cross deployment operation from the CT and Rhode Island region continues to be active and ongoing as they send roughly two to five individuals each day.
"Generous donations like the one from Mayo Clinic are critical to making our disaster response possible", Hansen said. There are still thousands of people without homes and in need of food and other support. Would you say that the volunteers that are from here heading down there, and also, the people giving their financial contributions, would you say this is kind of a way to pay it forward?
The Red Cross has also set up a text-to-donate system - texting HARVEY to 90999 will automatically add a $10 donation to the Red Cross to support Harvey relief efforts onto your next cellphone bill.
Some users were even posting their addresses on social networks.
There will be a Red Cross training session offered on Monday by the Eastern South Dakota chapter for those interested in heading down to Texas.
