Red Cross Prepares Oregon Coast for Winter Storms

Nearly one year ago, Oregon's northern coast was pummeled with record-setting storms and flooding. This year, the Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross is positioning new stockpiles of supplies and materials throughout the area, more than doubling the number of people who can be helped in the immediate aftermath of an emergency.

The Chapter is delivering seven trailers filled with cots, blankets, personal comfort kits, cooking supplies, cleaning supplies, HAM radios, nurse's kits and shelter kits to communities along the northern Oregon Coast. Additional supplies arrived in Cannon Beach last week, and will be delivered to Pacific City, Manzanita/Nehalem, Warrenton, Astoria and Seaside by November 10. The Red Cross has recently pre-positioned additional emergency supplies in Clatskanie and Vernonia as well. The supplies are housed in trailers so that they are mobile and can be made available to neighboring communities when needed.

"The Red Cross plays an important role in disaster preparedness and response, and these supplies are critical to that mission," said Governor Ted Kulongoski.   Continue Reading...

Free Class Helps Families Deal With Deployment

Imagine a spouse leaving for parts unknown. You're not sure exactly when they'll return and whether they'll be safe. And you certainly don't know how to talk about it with your kids.

That's where the Oregon Trail Chapter can help. In order to address the stress and strain that goes with deployments, we're launching a new course -- "Coping With Deployments: Psychological First Aid for Military Families." Offered free of charge, the course is open to military family members of active duty, Reserve and National Guard forces, as well as veterans and their families.

The four-hour course is taught by licensed Red Cross mental health professionals and provides information on resiliency strategies for both adults and children; the easy steps involved in psychological first aid; and resources and referrals. All curriculum was developed with the help of subject matter experts from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines.

Families and individuals interested in the new course should contact Laura Fields at 503-280-1496.
  

Scholarships Help Teens Get Babysitter Training

While most teens take up babysitting for extra cash, for some, getting trained can mean being able to help support their family.

Recently, the Oregon Trail Chapter received such a request for scholarship. With two unemployed parents, this student knew that her babysitting income could make a big difference. We agreed, offering her a full ride for the course.

Thanks to generous grants from Juan Young Trust, Marie Lamfrom Charitable Foundation and the Fred Meyer Fund, we're able to ensure that every child gets the training they need -- to stay home alone, to care for siblings, to be a skilled babysitter. It's how we continue our work of saving lives and -- in the case of this one little girl -- get to work on rebuilding them as well.

If you know someone who needs a scholarship to attend Red Cross youth classes, please contact Dave Brooke at 503-528-5638.