Staff Writer
The American Red Cross is always in the red and it’s not because of its name.
“We’re always in the red because we’re doing our job,” said Joyce Knorr, director of the Aroostook County branch of the disaster relief agency, which runs strictly on donations from the public.
Aroostook Republican photo/Debra Walsh
The grand opening of the Aroostook County Branch of the American Red Cross was held Thursday at the Lions Building on High Street. In the front row from left, is Ben Zetterman, Red Cross Advisory Council; Peggy Bugbee, Advisory Council; Karla Bell, Caribou City Council/Red Cross volunteer; Joyce Knorr, branch manager; Judi Greenier, Red Cross health and safety coordinator; Judy Hilton, Red Cross volunteer; and Steve Corbin, Red Cross Advisory Council. In the back, Troy Heald, Washburn assistance fire chief; Robert Albert, Caribou City Council, Ken Murchison, Caribou deputy mayor; Michael Sirota, Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter development director; Romeo Bouchard, Red Cross Advisory Council and disaster volunteer; Jeannie McLaughlin, Caribou Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Kevin Huston, CCC&I.
Knorr made her comments Thursday during the grand opening of the Caribou office of the Red Cross. After 60 years of being located in Presque Isle, the county branch of the Pine Tree Chapter moved to Caribou in order to save money. Officials believe that the agency can save $4,000 annually by moving to less expensive quarters in the Lions Building on High Street.
Knorr cited the higher than usual amount of disasters to which that the county branch has responded this year. Each fire costs up to $1,500, according to Knorr.
The Pine Tree chapter, with headquarters in Bangor, has responded to 119 local disasters during the 8.5 months into its current budget, according to Michael Sirota, director of the Pine Tree chapter. Sirota anticipates that the chapter probably will respond to at least 150 disasters before the year is over.
“We haven’t even got to flood season yet,” he said.
Traditionally, the Pine Tree chapter assists about 250 victims of local disaster and about 25 percent or less are from Aroostook County, Sirota said. “This year those factors are multiplied.”
Knorr added that some of the fires are caused by people trying to heat their home more economically, given the high prices of fuel oil.
Whenever the news reports a disaster, there’s always a Red Cross person there to assist, said Phil Bosse, field representative for U.S. Sen. Susan Collins.
“It says a lot about the Red Cross,” Bosse said.
Caribou City Council Member Robert Albert also cited the work of the agency in contacting military members in the event of a family emergency.
“I’ve seen first-hand what the Red Cross can do,” Albert said.
The Pine Tree chapter is composed of Penobscot, Piscataquis, Washington, Aroostook, Waldo, Hancock, Knox and parts of Lincoln counties. The agency is geographically the second largest Red Cross chapter in the country.
The agency has offices in Bangor, Caribou, Rockland and Ellsworth.
