The American Red Cross has put out an urgent call for volunteers to help people impacted by last week’s tornadoes. Ed Bush is the executive director of the Capital-West area of the Louisiana Red Cross. He said they need caseworkers right away.
“We need people who can make phone calls and connect one on one with people who are adversely affected by tornadoes,” Bush said.
He said teams are providing aid across the state, focusing efforts in Caddo, Iberia, Jefferson, Orleans, St. Bernard, St. Charles, and Union parishes.
“Upwards of eight, nine hundred homes all require damage assessments and all of those people who couldn’t go home for a while required some shelter and some meals and snacks and those are all things that the Red Cross provides,” Bush said.
Bush said Red Cross volunteers have opened 50 cases, serving more than 100 people with recovery support, including financial assistance and help with medical needs such as prescriptions. He says he knows he may be asking people to adjust their holiday plans to volunteer, but he compares the work to that done by people who volunteer in other ways during the holidays.
“And there’s a lot of people who, that’s a great way to sort out what’s important for them in the holidays is by going and helping those people who are just trying to get through the day,” Bush said and added all training is free, can be done online and takes just a few hours. To apply, go to www.redcross.org
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