We're always happy to share good news about the impact of our AmeriCorps*State members, and this is a special one as the American Red Cross of West Virginia is giving special commendation to a Hoosier AmeriCorps member helping with relief work in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.
CHARLESTON, WV. Nov. 9, 2012 – There are many agencies the American Red Cross partners with in times of need to support the mission of providing relief and comfort to victims of manmade or natural disasters. Although the Red Cross is not a government agency, there is a government program that offers college students an opportunity to combine education with volunteering. AmeriCorps is one such agency.
 |
| Emma Forthofer of Wabash, Indiana ARC Photo by: H.Walker |
Emma Forthofer of Wabash, Indiana says that this program has given her a scholarship to finish her education but requires her to be a volunteer in order for her to receive living expenses through the program. The program offered many volunteer choices for her to work on and she chose the Red Cross. She could have done her volunteering as an animal shelter worker, joined the Big Brothers, Big Sisters programs or one of many others. When Hurricane Sandy struck with a mighty force she knew it was time to put her Red Cross training and personal skills to the test. She finds herself today in Upshur County West Virginia (in the city of Buckhannon) where snowfall from the super storm did an extensive amount of damage. People are stuck in isolated areas and not able to feed themselves because all power is out, there is no running water and roads are impassable. As bad as things are, Emma remains upbeat.
Emma is working at a feeding site at the Wayside Southern Baptist Church in Buckhannon. She is filling the position of managing coordinator for feeding distribution. The Virginia Southern Baptist Convention Disaster Relief Organization brought in a mobile kitchen that can cook up to 10,000 hot, nutritious meals a day. The meals are cooked and sent out to shelters where residents go for heat and food. Food also is distributed by Red Cross Emergency Response personnel door to door to people who cannot get to a shelter and have to stay in their homes.
Emma receives a list of the amounts of food that is going to each county and time schedules as to when it has to go out. The food and water is delivered according to a schedule that is military precise. The cooked foods are delivered to her in special containers called Cambros. The Cambros are placed on pallets and she directs the familiar red and white Red Cross box trucks into the loading area. She carefully checks off everything that is loaded and rechecks several times to make sure everything that is on her list is there. She has her routine down to a science it would seem, as she works to make things happen. “Some of these trucks are going into isolated areas as much as three and four hours away” she says. “Because of having to have military escorts into some of these mountainous areas, it is very important that we send everything out on the trucks that is needed all at one time.” Emma is very efficient at what she does and demands of herself to display a positive attitude at all times. As more people from the community begin to come out from being isolated for days, some find their way to the site and come into contact with Emma. “Everyone at the site is wonderful and generous” says Buckhannon resident Jason Cane who received food and water for his family from Emma.
She is credited by many who have worked with her at the site for days for keeping them in a positive mood. In these tough times there are many opportunities for despair and depression, but Emma seems to be a young woman with a lot of energy and willingness to give a lot of herself. “It would be easy to get depressed” says Emma. “After all, it is sad to see parents coming in to ask for food and water knowing this is the only way the kids will have something to eat. These are a proud people in this area and it is hard for them to ask for help. Yet when the kids have nothing to eat, they eventually have to swallow their pride and accept what is available to them. That’s when I get a feeling of self-fulfillment because I know I am a part of a team that is providing something essential. Take away what we are doing here and many people snowed in will not eat anything tonight.”
As a hobby, Emma likes to refinish furniture but will put that aside for now and pursue a marketing degree from Purdue University next year. Everyone wishes her well and knows she will be successful because of her attitude, outlook on the future and willingness to work hard for what she wants to achieve. Sadly though, when she does leave, the Red Cross will lose a valuable asset.
A snowed in WV resident makes his way to theRed Cross Emergency Response Vehicle to receive hot meals for himand his wife. They have not been able to get out of their home for 5days and this is the first hot meal they have had in that timebecause of the power being knocked out by super storm Sandy.National Guard had to clear the road of downed trees before the RedCross could get into the area.
 |
| ARC Photo by: Sheila Crunkleton |
No comments:
Post a Comment