Red Cross Volunteers Make a Difference in Dryden

Posted by Ed Iskra

on Mar 03, 2013

Carol Peterson, Red Cross Community Services Coordinator, recounted how she had been helping a friend who had cancer in 2000. This friend also had some assistance from Red Cross, but some of the equipment seemed antiquated and in poor condition.

Carol was determined to look at ways to raise funding to help update the equipment. In 2004, she started as a volunteer with the Red Cross and by 2008 moved into her present position. Carol and Lorraine spoke to local Rotarians about what the Red Cross does for the Dryden area focusing on services for senior citizens.

The Red Cross provides a transportation service for area residents. It is a fee for service program and you must be 55 or older to use it.

· you must be mobile enough to get in and out of the vehicle.

· you must have an assessment done

· trips must be medical or health related

· the service is provided on a 24/7 basis subject to volunteer driver availability

· Red Cross is a Northern Ontario Travel third party designate...so you can sign your grant over to Red Cross and not have to put money out up front.

· trips must be booked at least 3 business days in advance for local trips and 7 business days for out of town trips.

In the headline photo Carol Peterson, stands with Dryden Rotary Vice-President John Borst and Red Cross volunteer Lorraine McArthur.