On June 12, just weeks after powerful storms ripped through Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties, the American Red Cross disaster training institute welcomed 70 volunteers, staff and local partners to an intensive, three-day preparedness event. The training, held at Kellogg Community College’s Regional Manufacturing Technology Center in Battle Creek, was made possible through a $31,000 grant from The American Red Cross-Calhoun County Chapter/Bernice Sackrider Volunteer Forum Fund, one of several funds administered by the Battle Creek Community Foundation (BCCF).
“At the American Red Cross, we live by the belief that we’ll always be there in times of need. Completing this preparedness training means there are now local residents who are ready to serve when disasters, large or small, strike in your neighborhood,” said Justin Kern, Interim Executive Director, American Red Cross of Southwest Michigan.
“Generous funding through the Sackrider Volunteer Forum Fund made it possible to keep our people and communities ready to respond locally when the need arises.”
The courses covered how to effectively respond when a natural disaster strikes, such as establishing a shelter, providing meals and other resources to disaster clients, as well as assessing damage and resident needs in communities, public affairs, and government operations. More than half of the participants also attended a hands-only CPR session.
Thirty-five of the 70 participants were Red Cross volunteers, staff and partners from Battle Creek and Kalamazoo areas, and included participants from nonprofits, such as Voces and Charitable Union of Battle Creek. The participants are better prepared to help neighbors in need before, during and after a natural disaster.
The value of being a prepared volunteer resonated with first-time training participant Sherelle Bell-Brown, a new Battle Creek resident.
Bell-Brown combines a career in public health with Red Cross training to support people affected by disasters. Following two public affairs courses during the training institute, she realized the power she may hold to help people with timely, clear information during times of disaster.
“I’ve seen how powerful effective messaging can be, especially during critical times. Our discussion only deepened my interest in further exploring the health communications space,” said Bell-Brown.
BCCF was represented at the event by Lynn Gray, Senior Development Officer and BCPSEF Administrator.
“It was a pleasure to attend the volunteer training kickoff and hear the conversations around the room, feeling the passion and commitment of the volunteers in attendance,” she said. “I’m deeply grateful and humbled by the dedication of Red Cross volunteers. When they show up and put their training into action, they become an essential lifeline for communities in need.”
Gray also reflected on the important resources that funds like the Sackrider Volunteer Forum Fund provide to those living in Southwest Michigan.
“All of us at BCCF are thankful for donors like Bernice Sackrider, whose volunteer focus began in 1990, and her legacy, built on partnership and financial support, continues to pay it forward today,” Gray said.
The American Red Cross-Calhoun County Chapter/Bernice Sackrider Volunteer Forum Fund was established in 1990 to promote the training and development of volunteerism in greater Battle Creek through designated programs of the American Red Cross. The fund honors Bernice Sackrider’s legacy with the American Red Cross, as well as her daughter, Nancy Sackrider Owen, who was the Red Cross chapter’s executive director for 21 years.