"Hurricane Sandy is not in the budget."

Our speaker at forum this week was supposed to be Elizabeth Moore from Red Cross.  However, with Hurricane Sandy causing devastation across the Northeast last week, she is staying very busy.  So our director, Dr. Vince Brewton, told us a little bit about the Red Cross instead.

The Red Cross has four main functions (three of which I knew about already):

1. Disaster Relief-  The Red Cross provides relief from hurricanes, tornadoes, house fire, etc.  For example, Red Cross is a huge presence in New York and New Jersey at the moment.  There are so many people without power in need of food, water, and bed that need help, and Red Cross is one organization that helps them.  Red Cross also helped out after the April 27 tornadoes that ravaged north Alabama last year by handing out food and water and clothes. 
2. Training- Red Cross provides training for lifeguards, first aid, CPR, white water rescue, and babysitting.  
3. Blood Collectors- This is the first thing that always comes to my mind when I think of Red Cross.  At Russellville High School, the National Honor Society hosted a blood drive each January.  I gave blood my senior year.  Besides kinda freaking out a little bit, everything was cool!  But giving blood is good...I just need to work up the courage to do it again. 
4. Official liaison between the public and those in military service- Okay, this one I didn't know about.  But I think it's great.  Those who have family members serving in the military need a way to be guaranteed contact with their loved ones.  Red Cross is where they can turn when they cannot get in contact with their loved ones any other way. 

I also learned that the Red Cross operates under different names when in different countries.  When they are in a country with a mostly Muslim population, they use the Red Crescent, and in countries with a large Jewish population, they use the Red Diamond.      

This year, I helped with the Huff 'n Puff on the Bluff 15K and had a lot of fun.  I intend to help again next year as well.  

In other news, unrelated to the Red Cross, Vince talked a lot about people who don't keep their word, such as paid executives who decide that working for a non-profit organization is not worth their time.  He encouraged us to hang around with any organization that drags its feet.  These organizations meet a need, and if we want to meet that same need, we could either start our own organization (and divide the resources) or wait.  He also encouraged us to keep an eye on the integrity of the company we are volunteering for.

I'm probably going to volunteer at the soup kitchen, as soon as I figure out where it is, and find the time to do so.  I'm also still interested in volunteering with the Salvation Army and possibly a couple other places.  Thankfully, my weekend job just cut Saturdays off the week, so my Saturdays are now open again.  But I'm probably still gonna have to volunteer sometime during the week since I go home every weekend.  I'll keep you updated!