Sent from Diane, a doctor volunteer for the Red Cross in Louisiana:
Hi All,
I thought I'd let you know whats up down here in the muggy hot south. I'm working for the Red Cross. My job is Staff Health. I'm driving all over the state checking on the staff at the shelters. I've been to the Cajundome in Lafayette, the Civic Center in and Burton Centers in Lake Charles, and yesterday I visited a bunch of chuch run shelters. The Red Cross volunteers are really working hard, they are not wasting your money. I've seen some problems in the workers,
mostly due to overuse injuries, minor traumas and not taking their meds.
I've heard some amazing stories from the people who were rescued. The stress level is still really horrible for a lot of people. There is no privacy. The clients were not complaining about the food, but I won't eat it. I've never been a fan of southern cooking I guess.
Feel free to donate to the Red Cross. Despite my frustration with the paperwork, they are getting a huge job done. The logistics of running this show is mind boggling. If you are inspired to volunteer, go for it. Your talents and skills won't be used to the max, but they are still needed. I've seen professional people unloading trucks, cooking, running the toy "stores" and doing "mundane" tasks. Honestly, there are so many things that need to be done, and the Red Cross needs intelligent good work ethic types doing them. Some of the volunteers, kind hearted as they are, should not be here for a variety of reasons. The Red Cross training is a pain, but you can tell who had it and who didn't.
I better get back to work now...who knows when I'll get to touch another keyboard.
Diane
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Updated: 3:26 AM GMT on September 20, 2005
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