Volunteer Spotlight

Carol Gross	March 2008
	A volunteer with the Oregon Trail Chapter since 1989, Carol Gross has responded to numerous disasters throughout the country, including Hurricanes Katrina and Wilma. When Carol Gross entered the Four Corners Casino Gift Shop in late February, she wasn’t expecting someone to serve her—she was looking for someone she could serve. Part of a team of Red Cross mental health professionals deployed to Wells, Nevada following an earthquake, her mission was to attend to the
emotional needs of residents affected by disaster, an integral component of American Red Cross emergency assistance. With that mission in mind, Gross struck up a conversation with a young mother who was working her second job at the gift shop. They talked about how the emotional aftershocks caused by earthquakes sometimes exceed the physical ones and about the feelings that linger long after fallen debris has been cleared from offices, homes and streets. The mother told Gross about the moment when the walls at her primary workplace began shaking and the ceiling fell in around her. She spoke of her children and their fears that their mother might not be okay and might not be there for them. She told of other workers who were trapped in a spin cycle that seemed to last for a lifetime, although the shaking and destruction actually lasted less than 20 seconds. When she finished sharing the details of her ordeal, she asked Gross to come to her primary workplace and speak with others who were trying to come to grips with their fears and emotions. Gross agreed, and the next day she met with eight of the woman’s co-workers. Feelings of Fear and Exhaustion One such co-worker was J. Roger Olsen, who had been on the second floor of a two-story cinderblock building when the floor started to give out from under him. “I got into a door way and held on,” he said. “I was surprised at how long it was and how much the building swayed.” When the shaking stopped, Olsen looked for a female co-worker who he knew was in the next room. As he got to her door, “she just ran right over me,” and the two made an adrenaline-charged exit to the street below. In the days since, both Olsen and his colleague have experienced feelings of fear and exhaustion, exacerbated by lack of sleep. Other employees told similar stories, and one man said he has found himself crying on occasion. Gross listened to the workers, offered further opportunities to meet again, and provided advice on dealing with disaster trauma (both for the workers and their children). As she left, everyone at the company thanked her for helping them. Helping the Healing Process Following this session, Gross headed over to Stuart’s Grocery and Deli to meet for the second time with a group of locals who gather each morning at Stuart’s for free coffee and camaraderie. She listened to their fears and concerns, offering tips and tidbits to help move the healing process along. By noon, Carol had counseled almost 20 local residents who were working through the aftermath of the earthquake. It had been a very productive morning, but there were still many hours to go and many more meetings to attend. By Stan Rosenzweig, Red Cross Volunteer, Salt Lake City

Stan Eubanks	December 2007
	When Stan Eubanks found himself unemployed following the closing of the General Motors factory, he knew just where to look for work: his local American Red Cross chapter. “I walked into the Oregon Trail Chapter headquarters and asked if I could work here,” Stan said. Fortunately, his experience as a former National Guardsman and EMT made him an ideal candidate. Over the past year, Stan has volunteered thousands of hours teaching safety courses and training volunteers on CPR and AED use. As a daytime responder with the disaster action team, Stan also provides immediate care and support to families after a fire or other catastrophe has destroyed or severely damaged their home. “The people we help have basically lost everything,” he said. “We’re able to take care of them for a short time and that’s a good feeling. I just wish we could do more.”
Although Stan’s retirement benefits from GM and the military will kick in soon, he has no plans to retire from his work at the Red Cross. “My fellow volunteers and I are here because we’ve got time on our hands and a desire to serve,” Stan said. “We just want to help people.”