AMHERST, N.S. – Volunteering at the Canadian Red Cross can become a passion.
Just ask Bev Cooke.
“You get more out of it than what you give,” said Cooke, who has volunteered at the Red Cross Amherst, Cumberland County Service Centre for almost 20 years.
As a lead with the Red Cross Disaster Management team, Cooke helps people in need in Cumberland County, but she also helps people in disaster zones throughout North America.
“I’ve been to Florida and Alabama during hurricane season, and I’ve been to disasters in Newfoundland,” said Cooke. “There’s a lot of people I met a long time ago in those places that I’m still friends with today.”
Sherman Beal has volunteered at the Service Centre for almost two years.
“I help out wherever I can. I work at the front desk a little bit, I clean wheelchairs, and I drive the van to pick up wheelchairs,” said Beal. “And I’m doing the training in disaster management as well.”
Kashika Jaggi, who is originally from New Delhi, India, has volunteered at the Service Centre for close to 18 months.
“I work at the front desk and I work with the Health Equipment Loan Program,” said Jaggi. “I love it. I’m here at my lunch hour every day.”
The Amherst office is always looking for new volunteers.
“The more hands we have the easier it becomes,” said Angie Lohnes, Service Centre co-ordinator and lead.
Volunteers can work as little as one, four-hour shift per week, or they can receive in depth training in disaster management.
“When a call comes through for any type of disaster or event, be it a house fire or flooding, a team is called out to assess the people,” said Lohnes. “First responders look after the fire, police look after evacuation, and the disaster management team looks after the people.”
Training is provided for all volunteers at the Red Cross.
“We provide all the training and all the tools you need to do any of the jobs in here,” said Lohnes. “But the disaster management commitment is a little different. The team meets once every month to do training exercises and planning.”
Anybody interested in volunteering at the Amherst, Cumberland County Service Centre can call 902-667-8794 or visit their location at 16 Church Street, Suite B. They can also email [email protected], or email [email protected].
