Two Kosciusko County Red Cross volunteers are heading southeast to lend a helping hand to West Virginia residents following a string of severe storms over the weekend.
It is the first deployment for both volunteers.
Annette Coenen, Warsaw, and Cindy Peterson, Syracuse, left Thursday morning bound for a shelter in Beckley, W. Va.
The two will serve as staff members of the shelter and will assist with a variety of duties during their one-week deployment.
Weekend storms caused widespread power outages to more than 2 million along the East Coast and killed almost two dozen people.
“It is the selfless spirit shown by such incredible people that has been the backbone of the American Red Cross for 130 years,” said Red Cross Operations Director Kim Komdeur.
“Without volunteers like Annette and Cindy – and Mary Hoffer, who is still deployed in Colorado – and so many more like them, this world and our country would be a very different and diminished place. They make me grateful and proud,” she said.
The Red Cross is operating shelters and supporting numerous cooling centers in West Virginia, Virginia, New Jersey, Maryland, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio, as well as in and around Washington, D.C.
Those who want to help the people affected by this disaster, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
Their gift will enable the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other disaster assistance.
To make a donation, people can visit www.redcross.org or call 800-RED-CROSS or text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Contributions may also be sent to American Red Cross, Kosciusko County Chapter, 320 N. Buffalo St., Warsaw, IN 46580.
