2008 Woodie Awards
Red Cross needs volunteer help with communication to armed forces
Angelica Perez
Issue date: 9/20/07 Section: News
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No, this is not a "More you know" message but the qualities the Armed Forces Emergency Service, a branch of the Red Cross, is looking for in its volunteers.
With the additional 21,500 troops President Bush announced for Iraq in January (usinfo.stat.gov), the need for communication between soldiers and the home front becomes crucial in the time of a family emergency.
Vicky Richmond, executive director of the Texas Panhandle Red Cross, said, "If a family in this service delivery area has a solider in the armed forces and there is an emergency, we assist that family by sending a message to the soldier so that if grandma dies, a spouse is in trouble or a baby is born, we can gather all the necessary information."
Ora Bradley, an administrative technician for the Texas Panhandle Red Cross, said, "The information will be sent to the serviceman so that the soldier will feel like he doesn't miss anything. All the information is right there where they're located. How serious the illness, whatever they need, that information is provided."
Training for AFES volunteers is designed so "anyone and everyone can volunteer, and it does not take too long, because the volunteers receive handouts that they refer to," Bradley said.
"The only basic training done is simulated calls."
Once first-time volunteers "have received one or two phone calls and get their feet wet, then they're like, 'Oh! OK, I was worried for nothing!'" Bradley said.
"It helps to know that you're a part of helping our national defenses, because once our troops realize that the home front is being taken care of, they can do their job readily."
Richmond and Bradley both noted another positive side of being an AFES volunteer.
With AFES, all a volunteer needs is a cell phone and some privacy. With disaster relief, there's a good chance a volunteer might have to open a shelter or travel and may not be able to leave until all is taken care of. An AFES volunteer is not tied to anything. A volunteer can go about his or her personal business but should be available to take a phone call.
Richmond said a volunteer doesn't meet the person on the other end of the line who "is generally upset," but for the volunteer, "It's rewarding to know that you helped that family."
Anyone who wants to volunteer should call Bradley at 376-6309.
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