“My team is helping to provide shelter for everyone affected from either losing their homes from flooding or loss of power,” said New Mexico American Red Cross Volunteer Brianna Hrabina, a shelter supervisor in Belle Chasse, Louisiana, about 30 minutes south of New Orleans. She says the numbers at the shelter fluctuate, but some nights there are up to 40 people. She has a team of six volunteers.
Brianna’s first mission was in Napoleonville, LA, where 150 people impacted by Hurricane Ida were at the Red Cross shelter.
“A lot of the shelters are quiet,” explained Brianna. “Many people are crying, upset, or just not talking or doing anything. “So, it’s beneficial for all of us to try to encourage everyone to keep going and depend on us to help them as much as we can by providing a place to stay, water, and food so they can have peace of mind and know their belongings are safe. It means a lot to them.”
Red Cross volunteers are also developing bonds with many of these people, according to Brianna. “Some of them don’t want to leave. They want to stay with us until they’re sure everything’s ok. It’s a nice bond we grow.”
She said in Belle Chase, “Everything’s damaged. Everything collapsed. Everything is just gone.” It’s a community that was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina and other recent disasters.
“We provide an ear and listen to them cry,” Brianna said. “We sit there and maybe hold their hand or pat their back and give them reassurance that we’re there to help them and communicate with them for the struggles they face,” adding there are a lot of children with the youngest five months old. “It’s hard seeing the kids here.”
Unlike other deployments Brianna has been on, this one is different due to the involvement of faith-based partners. “We must make sure our boundaries are in the middle. That way, we don’t overstep what the churches are doing for the community and try to provide more for the community. That’s different. Everyone has strong faith here, and we’re working with the community and churches to unite and be together.”
If you’d like to become a Red Cross volunteer, there are many opportunities in addition to disaster relief. Go to Redcross.org/volunteertoday
HOPE DELIVERED 