Red Cross volunteers are always ready

TEXARKANA — Recently, this area experienced the effects of Hurricane Laura. Fortunately, the storm did not bring the grief to the area some were predicting and other areas did experience, but the American Red Cross serving Northeast Texas was standing by, ready to help, if called.

“We have the ability to deploy 50 beds for those who need it, as well as feed those who may need it,” said Christal Phiffer Prince, executive director. “During COVID, we have some restrictions on some of our more traditional resources and how they can be used, but should the worst happen, we can help those who need food and shelter.”

Recently, there were flash floods that forced some Arkansas residents from their homes. The Red Cross here responded.

“Because of restrictions due to COVID on congregate sheltering, we contract with local hotels,” she said. “We did that during the flooding. Between situations, we keep lines of communication going with our partner hotels. We also provide food through local organizations for those under our care, or financial assistance allowing those we are aiding to obtain their own.”

The Red Cross is set up to respond to a wide range of disasters, including flooding and tornadoes. But the most common situation they help out with in this area is home fires.

“But we could not do this without our volunteers,” Prince said. “They are key to our ability to do what we do. They are always on call, night, day, every day, throughout the year, including holidays.”

The Red Cross swings into action when they get a call from someone about needing our help.

“Be it clients, emergency professionals, friends and neighbors, someone has requested our aid. But we have to be called,” she said. “Someone has put us onto the situations with which we become involved in our chapter’s area of responsibility.”

For this chapter, that area includes 17 counties, all in Texas except Miller County Arkansas.

The region supports offices in Texarkana, Paris and Sherman.

Currently, due to COVID, much of the local staff is operating remotely, but that doesn’t translate to inactivity. Quite the opposite.

“From March to September, we’ve opened 196 cases, served 527 clients and have rendered financial assistance in total amount of $118,000,” Prince said. “We are active, we are here. Our staff and most especially our volunteers are out in our communities, helping where needed. Even at the height of COVID, we have never stopped working.”

(Donations and volunteers are still needed. For more information, contact American Red Cross serving Northeast Texas at 903-7935602.)

Staff photo by Kelsi Brinkmeyer ■ Christal Prince, executive director for American Red Cross Northeast Texas, speaks with Les Moody, disaster program manager for American Red Cross Northeast Texas, about how the pandemic has changed their daily operations. Moody said that while their operations have changed significantly, they have not slowed down in the Texarkana region or beyond.

Staff photo by Kelsi Brinkmeyer ■ The Texarkana branch of American Red Cross, serving the larger Northeast Texas region, has a warehouse currently being converted to a supply center for the Ark-La-Tex. The warehouse will be able to store disaster relief supplies as well as training suppies needed for the classes that they provide for free to the community.