Giving their all to those in need

In the wake of the 7.0 magnitude earthquake that devastated much of the Haitian Region on Jan. 12, 2010, relief agencies from across the globe have ramped up efforts to offer support to its victims.
An outpouring of contributions followed to offer relief to the already impoverished nation, while agencies like the American Red Cross and The Salvation Army activated to offer hands-on assistance to victims being pulled from the rubble, and those who stood by in the aftermath.
According to Captain Tim Shaffer of the Salvation Army Valley Division in Sayre, Pa., the Salvation Army World Services Organization has a team that deployed immediately to Port-au-Prince to assess damage and provide support.
And down the road in Monroeton, Pa., the Red Cross Chapter Executive, Patricia Sheets, talked of the services being provided in Haiti by the Red Cross and the calls being received locally from people who want to help out.
But behind the scenes of these relief organizations are directors who guide them, and the volunteers that work locally to maintain relief operations for the valley communities and surrounding areas.
We recently visited the American Red Cross Bradford Sullivan Counties Chapter and the Salvation Army Valley Division to discover what it takes to be prepared to respond locally to disaster and how each organization connects to the national efforts when disaster strikes in other parts of the world - like Haiti.
First, we visited the Red Cross facility in Monroeton where Director Patty Sheets works diligently to keep people informed of relief efforts in Haiti while maintaining relief services locally like the county's blood supply.
According to Sheets, the American Red Cross in Monroeton is working with the Regional Office of the American Red Cross of Lackawanna County to keep people informed through the dissemination of any media releases, as well as answering inquiries on how to help.
The day following the earthquake in Haiti, according to Sheets, the phone rang non-stop. "We received many calls the first few days from people wanting to know what they can do, and what is needed," said Sheets.
Sheets also noted that with all of the avenues available for donating to relief efforts, calls have started to slow down. "We are now only getting a few calls a day," Sheets added.
And for local efforts, the American Red Cross of Bradford Sullivan Counties has eight on-call volunteers, an active nine member board of directors, and over 40 volunteers that specifically assist with area blood drives.
When disaster strikes within the community, whether it is a fire or motor vehicle accident, the Bradford County Emergency Management Agency will contact the Red Cross once the fire and emergency medical squads are dispatched.
It is at that time that the Disaster Chair, Bill Roach, will contact the on-call volunteers as needed. And responding to the calls, volunteers will provide coffee, water, and anything else needed at the scene.
Sheets gave as an example a recent call on Dec. 29, 2009 to Ridgebury Township where people were without power for 24-hours. Prepared to set up a temporary shelter at the Ridgebury Township fire station, the Red Cross responded with cots, food and water.
And although power was restored and the aid provided wasn't extensive, Sheets said that they were ready. "We had everything and we were ready to go," said Sheets.
And the volunteers who respond do so because it is their desire to help out people in the community. While returning to his home on River Road in Standing Stone Township following the power outage, Bill Roach spotted a home that was on fire on May Hill Road in Ridgebury Township. Roach immediately went into the home and was able to pull the residents outside to safety.
The Red Cross, following the fire, was able to provide temporary shelter, food and clothing to the displaced residents.
But one of the largest efforts of the American Red Cross locally are the blood drives held throughout the year that provide hospitals with the much needed supply for surgeries and other hospital procedures.
According to Jan Russell, blood services coordinator for the Bradford Sullivan Counties Chapter, approximately 90 blood drives are held each year in Bradford and Sullivan Counties. This year, said Russell, they are hoping to host 100.
And the demand for blood by area hospitals, according to Russell, is huge. "It's going out as quickly as it's coming in," said Russell.
To set up a drive, volunteers must first be trained by the Regional Office out of Wilkes-Barre, and then volunteers like Deb Mathers - who is the chair of the Bradford Sullivan Counties board of directors - will assist with greeting donors, or escorting them to the canteen following the blood draw so they can rest and get something to eat.
Kristy Mosier, who serves as the account manager for blood services throughout a five county region, noted that although the demand for blood is typically high, the past summer saw a drop in demand and blood drives were halted for a period.
"The economy was bad this past summer," said Mosier, "so many people weren't having elective surgeries." Mosier also noted that this is not the norm.
At Robert Packer hospital in Sayre, Pa., the staff conducts their own blood drives and is considered one of the biggest collectors. When Patty Sheets started in her position as director of the Bradford Sullivan Counties Red Cross a year ago, Robert Packer was collecting 60 units of blood. Now, a year later, they are collecting 100 units.
"They're one of our biggest contributors of blood," said Sheets.
The American Red Cross relies heavily on volunteers to be able to provide services. Sheets added that volunteers are always welcome, and that people can call the chapter at (570) 265-2797 to learn more.
And down the road at the Salvation Army of the Valley Division in Sayre, Pa., Captain Tim Shaffer and his wife, Captain Angela Shaffer, work around the clock to provide physical and spiritual relief to the community.
A rock in the foundation of the valley since 1929, the Shaffer’s took the helm five years ago and have moved steadfast in their spiritual quest.
Operating with volunteer assistance, the Salvation Army provides food through their pantry, offers programs for youth, and has a Sunday service that provides spiritual support to the community. The Salvation Army also assists people who are in need of shelter.
According to Captain Tim Shaffer, one of the biggest problems today is the number of people who are unemployed and searching for jobs. Shaffer noted that there are people who moved to the area in search of employment that are homeless, and then another sector who already reside in the area that are looking for work.
Shaffer sees one of the roadblocks for individuals as being the type of work they are searching for. "People might have to take what they can find until they are able to locate work in their field of expertise," said Shaffer. "People aren't always willing to do that."
Shaffer also talked about what the Salvation Army's purpose is in the community, and why he and his wife and family continue to do the work they do.
Tim Shaffer, who is originally from Dubois, Pa., got involved in a singing group, drama and music while growing up. Upon his mother's passing, Shaffer moved in with his grandmother at a young age and got involved in youth programs. This attraction led him to the work he performs today.
His wife, Angela, grew up in a Salvation Army family, so the path she embarked upon was almost pre-determined.
Now, with their children Lance - who will turn eight today, and Nathan, who is ten years old, the family participates in the activities they operate, and grows together spiritually as well.
The philosophy behind the Salvation Army operations, according to Shaffer, is to help meet the physical needs of the community, and to help meet the spiritual needs as well.
"If you meet their physical needs, they will be more apt to respond to the spiritual aspects," said Shaffer.
To do this, the Salvation Army responds when there is a need in the community. As an example, Shaffer talked of the fires at Bob's Honda in 2007, and how the Salvation Army responded with supplies needed to assist the firefighters on the scene, as well as employees and staff that were waiting on-hand.
With this response, Shaffer added, the community also reached out to assist by supplying Gatorade for workers and other supplies needed to help the fire department while they battled the blaze and extinguished the fire.
Shaffer also spoke of the flood of 2006, and a chemical fire that they responded to for assistance that happened on Glenmary Drive in Tioga County, N.Y.
As for the spiritual aspects of their organization, the Shaffer's are ordained ministers that work with those in need. Shaffer recalled two women who visited the Salvation Army for a period of time to just talk. Over time, Shaffer recalled, the women began to attend their service on Sunday.
"They told me it was because we cared about what they said," said Shaffer. "Sometimes people just need to know that there is someone out there that cares."
As for the disaster in Haiti, the Salvation Army in Sayre, Pa. is communicating updates on their activity for dissemination to the public, and has developed accounts for monetary donations in which 100 percent is applied directly to the effort.
For the Sayre, Pa. office, donations received for Haiti are being sent directly to their Division Headquarters in Syracuse for placement in a special fund. "There are no administrative costs," said Shaffer.
And this is what Shaffer has been communicating to the community members who have been calling the local office with inquiries about how they can assist. "Right now, if we get anything, we send it directly to Syracuse," said Shaffer.
Shaffer also noted that although there hasn't been anyone locally with family members or friends affected by the disaster, there are other Salvation Army units that have provided that assistance.
Personally, Shaffer has two colleagues - Captain Cindy-Lou Drummond and Captain Martha Jensen - who are medical doctors working out of Haiti. According to Shaffer, his colleagues are having difficulties due to the lack of medical supplies and the fact that there is no electricity available to them.
But back home, in Sayre, Pa., the local organization can only do what they can to communicate the needs of Haiti - and focus on the needs of the direct community.
The Salvation Army welcomes everyone to attend their 10 a.m. Sunday school and 11 a.m. Holiness Meeting. They also invite the community to take part in their soup kitchen offered every first Monday, except November, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at their South Elmer Avenue location in Sayre, Pa.
The soup kitchen, which has been officially named "The Valley Dining Hall", offers a sit down type meal that is served by volunteers. The kitchen even has a menu to show what is being served each month - with February offering Veggie Soup and Chili.
The Salvation Army also offers an after school program for youth each Wednesday from 4 to 7 p.m. "The Army is about a lot," said Shaffer.
To learn more, contact the Salvation Army by calling (570) 888- 2153.

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