Volunteers’ contribution crucial to tsunami relief and recovery operations
National Volunteer Week – April 17 to 23, 2005
Every year thousands of volunteers across the country carry out the humanitarian work of the Canadian Red Cross. When the tsunami struck Asia on December 26, an enthusiastic team of volunteers quickly mobilized to pitch in and lend a hand.
Many volunteers cut their holidays short and worked long hours to help ensure the Red Cross was able to respond quickly and effectively to the tsunami.
Most volunteers simply wanted to do something instead of donating money in response to the tsunami disaster. They gave freely of their time and skills, no matter how large or small their role was.
Whether it was answering a donation hotline, processing receipts or helping to organize fundraising events—their contribution truly made a difference.
Here are just a few of the stories of volunteers who helped during the tsunami appeal:
Frank Sorenson, an 85-year-old volunteer from Ottawa was so touched by his experience volunteering; he wrote a poem about the Red Cross titled “Ships of Mercy, Ships of Hope”.
Karen Gregory of Fort McMurray, Alberta represented the Red Cross during a radiothon that raised over $200,000 – more than double the initial fundraising goal. The total raised represented about four dollars for every resident of the city. Gregory did on-air interviews, answered questions, and even wrote out tax receipts for donors. She says “I was overwhelmed by the generous response seen around the world, but in particular in my own community.”
Colleen Cocks of Regina, Saskatchewan helped to manage Red Cross volunteers, and played a key role in managing the auxiliary call centre set up in the Regina office to process incoming calls from donors. Her employer generously offered her services to the Red Cross. She described her experience with two words – “overwhelming and profound”.
When Linda Coulter, from Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario dropped by her local Red Cross office to make a donation to the tsunami appeal, she decided to come back the next day to volunteer. Linda, a mother of three who teaches elementary school in the mornings, found time in her busy schedule to work in finance and logistics for the tsunami relief operations. She delivered presentations at schools to thank the children for their contributions to the tsunami appeal. More recently, she also signed up to become a volunteer Red Cross driver on a regular basis with the Red Cross.
“Our relief and recovery work in the tsunami-affected countries would not have been possible without the extraordinary commitment of our volunteers who dedicated countless hours to our programs and fundraising appeal,” said Tanis Trotman, Canadian Red Cross National Director of Human Resources.
“During National Volunteer Week, we wish to thank all our volunteers who helped with our tsunami programs, but also those who volunteer each and every day at our more than 300 offices across Canada.”
Since the beginning of tsunami operations, over 800,000 people affected by the disaster have received some form of assistance coordinated by the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. For more information visit the tsunami web pages.
