I am a Red Cross volunteer for the Sacramento-Sierra Chapter and have been trained and certified to work on natural disasters. This is something that became very important to me after serving on my former (insurance company) employer’s National Catastrophe Team many years ago. I saw the property and human devastation of the Loma Prieta EQ, Oakland Fire, Hurricane Andrew, the Northridge EQ and local California floods up close and personal.
Being a witness to those events and the aftermath changed me as a person forever. My own apartment was damaged in the Loma Prieta EQ and I have friends whose houses were destroyed in the Oakland fire. The damage from Hurricane Andrew was the worst thing I’ve ever seen in my life. Words cannot describe how much I value my safe home every night when I drive up and it is still there with all my things and my loved ones inside. I really do think about that. Every night.
My heart is aching for the poor people in Haiti today. I know that the Red Cross is there already providing food, shelter and aid. If you are moved to do so, go online and read about the Red Cross and see if there is anything you would like to do. Become a volunteer locally, sign up for a CPR class, donate blood, donate money, send prayers, anything. Just take a moment today.
Here are the links:
https://sacsierraredcross.org/
http://www.redcross.org/ 
Already sent my donation! It is really is terrible the devastation over there in Haiti. Those poor people. After seeing Sandra Bullock say that she would donate $1 million because it is "tough times for people and I can do it" made me think. If one million people gave $1, it would also be $1 million dollars.
I volunterred for the Red Cross a few years back. They must have forgotten about me. Wait. Duh! I moved!! I think I should contact them! Good reminder. Thanks.
Posted by: Theresa | 01/20/2010 at 09:59 AM
Good Job! I am really proud of you honey!
Posted by: mark guess | 01/13/2010 at 09:40 PM