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Recent storms deplete Red Cross funds

By Christine Anne Piesyk | February 13, 2008 |

The Red Cross works on the front line of disaster, providing assistance to victims and to the firefighters, police and rescue workers responding to all forms of crisis. The February 5 storms that raked through Tennessee communities were no exception.

The Clarksville-Montgomery Chapter of the American Red Cross opened two service centers last week to assist people in the Indian Mound section and in Houston County, offering assistance with food, rent, clothing, household needs, medical assistance and temporary home repairs that allowed families to return to their homes. The costs add up, and the local chapter is feeling the economic pinch.

According to Linda McCoy, the chapter expenses have risen 17% while donations have fallen 13%, necessitating a plea for assistance from the community for both monetary donations and volunteer assistance. The local Red Cross chapter, which has only three paid positions, runs on a dedicated corps of trained volunteers and the financial support of the community.

Disaster can strike anywhere, anytime. Having been a fire survivor, I still have vivid memories of that white panel truck with the bold Red Cross on the side, parked in front of the charred ruin of my home. I remain grateful for their competent and efficient assistance and the grace with they provided assistance to my family.

Disaster teams respond on a moment’s notice to assist the people of our community and our region. They deserve our support. Please consider making a monetary donation or volunteering with this vital organization. You never know when disaster will land at your doorstep.

For more information, call Linda McCoy, 931-645-6401.

About Christine Anne Piesyk

With 40 years behind me (Huh? What? How did that happen?) as a journalist, feature writer, investigative reporter, editor, and film/theater/arts critic, I brought my liberal New England activism to Tennessee several years ago. having completed a midlife undergraduate degree in community organizing and women's studies, and an MA in Interdisciplinary Arts. I am currently an MFA student at Goddard College. I served on Future Search Commissions for two colleges and an issue-specific commission for the City of Northampton, MA, and did minor undergraduate work in studies in urban planning and community development. I am a community volunteer and a member of FreeThinkers for Peace and Civil Liberties. I am a certified storm spotter. In my spare time (define spare time please?) I am a voracious reader, obsessive movie buff, classical music junkie; I also and design and make sci-fi/fantasy and renaissance costumes. I have an unquenchable interest in just about everything. I see life as an ongoing opportunity for learning and adventure, with the best things still to come. All posts by Christine Anne Piesyk as presented on Clarksville Online are copyright ©2006, 2007 to the author.

Email: womanspeak@yahoo.com

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