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Many Ohio Valley residents think first of blood drives when they think of the American Red Cross -- and that is one of the organization's vital functions. But it is also a lifeline for those in need after emergencies and disasters.
Volunteers from all over the country will be headed to those regions devastated by Hurricane Helene. Among them will be American Red Cross of the Ohio River Valley volunteers Chip Pickering of Parkersburg and Seth Kenefick of Steubenville.
Pickering is a shelter coordinator. Kenefick is a disaster program specialist. They both have been working for days already, helping those near Tampa, Fla., who needed shelter because they have not yet been able to get close enough to their homes to assess damage. They must wait for power and water restoration, and then they must determine whether their home is safe, repairable or even salvageable.
Sharon Kesselring, executive director of the Ohio River Valley chapter, said the focus now is on sheltering and feeding displaced residents, but that mission could change.
"It's amazing how quickly we can pivot to make things happen," she said.
And while the situation evolves, volunteers won't have it easy.
"This deployment is going to have major hardships," Kesselring said.
The destruction has been vast, and the Red Cross is stretched thin.
For Pickering, the deployment is supposed to last two weeks. But he said the actual length of his time working in Florida will depend on whether a replacement is available and whether help is needed somewhere else affected by the storm.
Deciding to become a Red Cross volunteer can come with some level of commitment. It's not as easy a decision as rolling up our sleeves and giving blood. But the work done is vital to recovery efforts. Find out more here: https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html.
Pickering and Kenefick are to be commended for the help they are giving. No doubt they will make a big difference for many people.
It's not for everyone. But consider whether, when the next disaster strike and the two of them are gearing up to lend a hand, you might be able to join them.