Red Cross volunteer back from FloridaSays more

help needed

By FRITZ BUSCH

Journal Staff Writer

NEW ULM -- Trisha Schwerin of New Ulm said she felt guilty about coming back to Minnesota after spending more than a month as an American Red Cross volunteer in Florida.

A member of the Brown/West Nicollet Chapter, which hosted an open house Saturday at its new location at 1215 South Broadway, Schwerin helped victims of three hurricanes find the basic necessities of life like shelter and food during one-on-one interviews.

Living in Florida wasn't easy for her either. She had to commute two hours each way from Tampa to Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda for a period of time before she found lodging closer to her daily destination. Finding food to eat was another often-challenging chore.

"I felt bad about coming home because there was such a need there. The storms were like continuous tornadoes." Schwerin said. "It was amazing how widespread the damage was."

Many people were living in makeshift homes or in somebody else's spare room, according to Schwerin. Many people lost their homes or had severe damage. Many lost their jobs because buildings were destroyed."

She added that her trip made her realize how important local Red Cross chapters can be.

"People tend to think disasters will never happen to them and put off helping the Red Cross," Schwerin said.

After she returned to New Ulm, Trisha's daughter Rachel, who works with her at 3 Sisters Tearoom in the Grand Hotel in downtown New Ulm, went to Florida to volunteer her services as a Red Cross worker. Trisha's son Andrew, who works as a motorcycle mechanic in Milwaukee, is also a Red Cross volunteer and is rendering his services in the Gulf Coast of Alabama.

Meanwhile, visitors toured the new Red Cross location on Saturday morning. Executive Director Sandy Radloff said she and local chapter members are thrilled that they will now be able to hold all training sessions at their own site instead of renting space somewhere else.

Babysitting, First Aid and CPR classes will be starting soon at the new Red Cross office.

During fiscal year 2003-2004, the chapter collected 3,503 units of blood, responded to four fires, trained 27 nurses in disaster services, taught 1,501 students in 89 water safety courses, trained 250 people in 31 CPR and First Aid courses, served 13 deployed service members for emergency leaves and 15 other notifications; aided 125 deployed National Guard members, 49 military reserve members and 233 members of their families; and distributed 4,600 safety brochures to county schools.

Fritz Busch can be e-mailed at fbusch@nujournal.com.