The need for volunteers to help the American Red Cross provide relief to victims of both local and natural disasters has never been more crucial, according to Mary Green, community manager for the Aroostook County chapter of the organization.
Green spoke to members of the community on Wednesday, Jan. 17, at Cafe Sorpreso in Presque Isle as the final speaker in the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues Breakfast Series. She shared personal memories of her recent deployments to the U.S. Virgin Islands with the Red Cross after Hurricanes Irma and Maria as well as the ongoing need for volunteer assistance and blood donations in Aroostook County.
2017 marked a major year for disaster relief, Green said, due to the “unprecedented” number of disasters across the country such as hurricanes in southern states, wildfires in California and two of the deadliest mass shootings in Las Vegas and Texas. According to Red Cross statistics, 1,100 Mainers are trained as volunteers and 117 of them have traveled to those disaster areas to assist since September.
Mary Green, community manager for the Aroostook County chapter of the American Red Cross, was the featured speaker for the final Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce Eggs and Issues Breakfast Series on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Green shared photos from her time assisting in hurricane relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017 and discussed what the Red Cross offers to people in Aroostook County
(Melissa Lizotte)
Last fall Green and other Red Cross volunteers from Maine went to the U.S. Virgin Islands to assist victims of Hurricanes Irma and Maria, both Category Five storms that left residents without electricity, shelter and communication access. She described the amazing efforts of local Red Cross volunteers who lived on the islands and lost their own homes but never stopped finding people they could help or assisting Green and her fellow volunteers from abroad.
“These people were living at the Red Cross headquarters and they never missed a day,” Green said. “Some of the streets were so flooded or washed out that we couldn’t go down them, but the local volunteers would help us find alternate ways to get to people who were stranded.”
While on the islands, Green worked in public affairs for the Red Cross and in the on-site emergency shelters and saw firsthand how appreciative island residents were of the Red Cross’s services. Volunteers provided water, food and health services to people who often had chosen not to leave their homes or could not because of the quick impact of the storms. They dealt with obstacles such as flash flooding and no street signs to read for directions, but brought relief to residents even in the smallest forms.
“One of the saddest things to see was children getting excited over water and food. A lot of them called us ‘Santa Claus’ when we’d come to where they were,” Green said. “It’s one of most heartbreaking but also one of the most gratifying experiences.”
Whether people help out locally or afar, Green said that the Red Cross is always in need of volunteers. In Aroostook County, fires continue to be the most devastating disaster for area residents. She noted that so far in 2018, The County already has seen 60 percent more fires than in 2017.
The Red Cross provides assistance to families and individuals who are displaced due to fires or other disasters usually by giving them a gift card with money to buy whatever personal and health items they may need. In addition, the Red Cross works with other community and statewide organizations such as the United Way of Aroostook, Salvation Army, ambulance services and local police and fire departments to ensure that people have their basic needs met after emergencies.
“We’ve had many people from the community in the past say, ‘I have a clothing shop. You could bring them here’ and we’ve often sent people to Catholic Charities for their food needs,” Green said. “Sometimes just saying, ‘Do you want someone to talk to?’ could make a difference to someone as they start to deal with what’s been happening to them.”
Much of the Red Cross’s recent efforts have included dealing with the recent blood donation shortage that has resulted from extreme cold weather and the cancellation of many blood drives. Green encouraged all individuals to donate at one of many local blood drives in Aroostook County and to consider volunteering at Red Cross events.
Local American Red Cross Community Manager Mary Green addresses those gathered for the Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues Breakfast Series on Wednesday, Jan. 17. Green spoke about her experiences assisting in hurricane relief efforts in the U.S. Virgin Islands in 2017 and the crucial need for blood donations and Red Cross volunteers in Aroostook County. (Melissa Lizotte)
There are many other initiatives that Red Cross sponsors that could use community assistance, including the Sound the Alarm, Save a Life campaign aimed at installing free smoke alarms in people’s homes. Red Cross has installed 1,000 smoke alarms in the St. John Valley alone and as an organization recently reached one billion installations across the country.
“I always want to tell people that the Red Cross is about more than blood drives,” Green said. “We have many community partners and would not be able to be successful without all the volunteers who have helped us.”
Green’s presentation served as the final one for Central Aroostook Chamber of Commerce’s Eggs and Issues Breakfast Series. Executive Director Theresa Fowler said that the chamber is launching a new regular event to replace the breakfast series and will announce that event later this year.
