Volunteer Agencies Work To Increase Ranks

As the 2009 Hurricane Season moves forward, one of the leading disaster relief agencies is on the Gulf Coast is trying to shore up their force. MPB’s Phoebe Judge reports.

It’s early on a Saturday morning at the Mississippi State University Coastal Research Extension Center in Biloxi and a group of Gulf Coast residents are sitting in a classroom listening to a training session for new American Red Cross volunteers. Bill Brent is executive director of the Mississippi Gulf Coast Chapter of the Red Cross,

“Anybody can be a volunteer because there are some many various things that we do as an organization. So there is a right fit for everybody.”

For the last 130 years, the Red Cross has been one of the prime sheltering and relief agencies in the United States. Harold Boudreaux began volunteering for the Red Cross two years ago after his wife died. He says he volunteers to return the favors that have been done for him in the past,

“I’m originally from Louisiana, and I’ve been through disasters all my life. Every time there was a disaster, there was Red Cross. So I figure this is a time for me to turn around and give back to them.”

That is a sentiment that is heard often on the Gulf Coast says Bob Beebe, emergency services director for the Red Cross’s Gulf Coast Chapter. He says many people remember seeing the Red Cross right after Hurricane Katrina and that makes them want to volunteer,

“They want to give back, they feel they have an obligation to give back to their fellow citizens. What we always say is if you want to help your neighbor, if you want to help your community, one of the best ways to do that is to join the Red Cross.”

Mimi Davison is one of those first time volunteers, who came because she wanted to give back,

“It’s more worthwhile than playing bridge or going to garden clubs. Here I am at 70 years old trying to find out how to help out my community.”

The Gulf Coast chapter of the Red Cross currently has about 200 volunteers, but Bob Beebe says they always need more especially now with the opening of two new shelters on the Coast which will increase shelter capacity by thousands.