Red Cross Volunteer Training Discussed by Starke County COAD

Posted on October 3, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

Local individuals driven to help in the event of an emergency recently attended a Red Cross volunteer training session held at Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Knox.

The church’s parish nurse Sharon Krick organized the session in conjunction with the Starke County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD). Krick reported that it was a pretty successful event. There were 24 individuals who indicated that they were interested and the majority showed up. About 20 people attended the training course on Sunday, September 23rd.

Disaster Program Manager of Northern Indiana Abe Rivas ran the session and provided a number of different scenarios in which a team of local volunteers would be useful.

From shelter work during major crises to providing assistance to a family after a house fire, there are a variety of ways that volunteers are needed right here in our community. Rivas also explained that in order to become a certified Red Cross volunteer, individuals have to sign up via the organization’s website.

Though Tuesday night’s COAD meeting was sparsely attended, members kicked around the idea of potentially hosting a future training session in the library so that computers would be accessible immediately following the informative presentation. This could potentially increase the number of people who follow up with the additional steps to become a certified Red Cross volunteer.

Though the procedure isn’t overly complicated, it does require interested volunteers to create a Red Cross ID and fill out a form with some questions about the types of opportunities they’d be interested in. If the training group was to go through this process together, it could create more of an incentive to carry through with it right away.

This Volunteer Training Course Will Help You be Prepared If a Disaster Strikes

Posted on September 7, 2018
Author Jacque Ryan, WKVI

If you’re interested in preparing yourself to provide assistance in the event of an emergency, you should consider attending the free Red Cross volunteer training session scheduled for Sunday, September 23rd.

This training course is being held in conjunction with the Starke County COAD’s efforts to form a local Disaster Action Team. The course will be held at the Our Redeemer Lutheran Church in Knox. Prospective volunteers should show up around noon CST.

The whole program will run about for about 2 hours and participants will learn the basics about various aspects related to volunteering for disaster response and recovery with the Red Cross.

Parish Nurse Sharon Krick said that about a dozen individuals have already signed up to participate. Krick added that she would like to get a head count before the event because a light lunch will be provided.

If you’re interested in attending contact her at 219-205-0033.