This is an urgent message from Holli Emore of Cherry Hill Seminary:
Some of you know that I am the “volunteer lead” in charge of Disaster Spiritual Care for the Red Cross in South Carolina. In that role I have helped deploy 2 of my team to Texas over the weekend. Word from down there is that the need is dire and there are not enough DSC responders, not by a long shot.
In fact, the need is so acute that someone is scheduling a sort of emergency training for ministers, chaplains, etc., who may be willing to deploy for Red Cross. This training will mostly apply to people who are already San Antonio and can get to it.
If you are endorsed in some way by a recognized religious body (a national Pagan organization would be best), have some experience/training in helping people in crisis, and an interest in stepping up:
- Go here and fill out the online form: https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer#step1 If you cannot get through just stop and try again later. There are currently 18,000 apps in the pipeline since Harvey hit!
- Here is what I know about the San Antonio training:
3 hour training that will focus on the key areas of Disaster Spiritual Care and credential others to provide Disaster Spiritual Care in shelters. This will be offered two times:
Friday — 9 AM to 12 PM at the San Antonio Baptist Association, 5807 Interstate 10 Frontage Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201.
Saturday — 9 AM to 12 PM also at the San Antonio Baptist Association.
The person in charge of this is named Dan Franklin. You can reach him at danrfranklin@gmail.com or text him at 210-842-8221. Dan is a Texas Crisis Resiliency Team Coordinator (might be a Southern Baptist group, I’m not sure). He welcomes any Pagans who are good listeners to attend. Be sure to email him if you intend to do so because they may have to change one of the locastions.
- It may be difficult to reach someone at a Red Cross chapter by phone at a time like this, but your local chapter volunteer coordinator is who you would normally connect with.
- If you have questions, email me back and I’ll do the best I can.
Thank you,
Holli S. Emore, Executive Director
Cherry Hill Seminary
www.cherryhillseminary.org
Photo by Richard Carson/Reuters