The tornado hit Moore, Oklahoma on Monday, May 20. On Tuesday, May 21, Capital Region volunteer Cynthia Olson was on a plane heading into the heart of the devastation to comfort those that had lost everything in an instant.
For the next 10 days, Cynthia would travel the impacted areas as part of a Red Cross Spiritual Care Team, providing a helping hand to those in need. Whether offering a shoulder to cry on, an ear to listen, or simply offering a hug, Cynthia and her team found ways to bring hope to neighborhoods that had been literally blown off the map.
[Listen in as Cynthia shares some of her experiences with CBS 13 and Fox 40 News]
It’s a difficult task, to be sure, but it’s one that Red Cross volunteers are called to do time and again. In the Capital Region, we have some of the most highly-trained and experienced volunteers in the nation, so it’s no surprise that we are among the first to respond to disasters when they exceed response capabilities at the local level.
So far we have sent ten volunteers to help out in Oklahoma, with many more standing by to help should the call come in.
Whether it’s a tornado response in the Midwest or a local fire in our own backyard, the volunteers of the Capital Region are ready if, when, and where disaster may strike.
Gold Country News and Notes 