By Natalie Bazinet
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — If the idiom holds true that a chain is only as strong as its weakest link, then the selflessness of local volunteers with the American Red Cross Pine Tree Chapter have allowed the local emergency support network to become virtually unbreakable.
As Aroostook County Branch Manager Joyce Knorr will tell you, the Red Cross is much more than a conduit for donating blood.
When disaster overwhelms a family — be it fire, flood or other devastating event — trained volunteers rise to the occasion, even if that means rising out of bed at 3 a.m. and driving to the other side of The County to offer assistance. They help secure a place for the individual to temporarily stay, provide them with funding to purchase food and a few sets of clothing.
From purchasing the hotel room to providing comfort kits filled with toiletries for victims of disaster — none of it would be possible without volunteers.
“There isn’t a vocabulary word that could express the appreciation I have for our volunteers,” Knorr said. “‘Thank you’ is the only phrase I can come up with, but the appreciation goes beyond that.”
“There’s just no way of saying what we really feel other than ‘thank you’ and their volunteerism is so appreciated not just by us [Red Cross officials], but by the people they’re helping,” Knorr added.
For instance, volunteers have stories about how the simplest forms of assistance can make a huge impact — like one instance where a volunteer provided a razor and shaving cream to a man who had just lost his house, and the act brought tears to his eyes.
“We take these little things for granted, but when someone’s gone through such a traumatic event and you give them even something simple, they are so appreciative,” Knorr explained.
Making the decision to become a Red Cross Volunteer isn’t one that can be made without commitment; it takes dozens of training hours, a vetting process and even a shadow period. What emerges are a core group of volunteers who are determined to help others through tough times.
“There’s no selfishness in these volunteers and heroes,” Knorr said. “They respond because there’s another life at stake and they want to give a helping hand; they give and they don’t expect anything in return, and they do it because they want to make sure everyone’s cared for.”
The Pine Tree Chapter has 16 disaster volunteers who bring a combined total of 111 years of services to the American Red Cross: Penny Kern, 25 years; Joyce Price, 20 years; Romeo Bouchard, 16 years; Bill Thomas, Knorr and George Knorr, all with six years; Ken Urquhart, Bob Jordan and Alice Beaulieu, each with five years; Nancy Nichols, Lynette Dobb and Pete Marcotte, all with three years; and Bonnie Drew, Dennis Drew, Daniel Lee and Bob Bouchard, each with two years.
“It takes a big commitment; they’re committed, loyal and dedicated — it just wouldn’t be possible without the volunteers.” Knorr said.
Outside of the core group of volunteers are a greater number of individuals whose selflessness generates the resources the Red Cross needs to make a difference. whether it’s a Sunday School class who donates comfort kits for disaster victims or the individuals who donates $20 to help buy clothing for someone who lost everything they own, community support keeps the Pine Tree Chapter Red Cross strong.
Knorr said that even local businesses chip in to help individuals cope after disaster — for example, the owners of Optix in Caribou work with the Red Cross to make sure individuals who didn’t have time to grab corrective lenses when they fled their home can get replacement glasses expediently.
Because so many in the greater community are willing to help in times of need, over 90 cents of every dollar goes directly toward providing victim relief efforts.
Anyone interested in finding out more about the American Red Cross in Maine can visit www.redcross.org/me.
