Disaster Response Photos of The Year 2008

See some stunning photos of Disaster Response of The Year 2008 at http://www.redcross.org/news/photoessays/endofyear/08/ Thanks to all of you that have donated time and money to help support the Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of The American Red Cross in its quest to help those in need. May the joy and giving spirit of this holiday season carry on throughout 2009.

Christmas Party

Here's some pictures from our recent Christmas Party in slideshow and gallery format. Photos courtesy of Bella Orra Studios

Helping Those In Need

The American Red Cross Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter continues to help about 40 people who are in need help with food, clothing and finding a new place to live just 2 weeks before Christmas. The local Chapter's disaster relief volunteers responded to a call in the middle of the night after a 4-alarm fire affected 2 buildings at an apartment complex on Saturday, December 13th. Two buildings were evacuated at the Incline Terrace apartments at 1044 E. 400 S. Building B residents were able to go back home, Building A residents can not go home to about 40 units.

The Red Cross opened a shelter at a nearby LDS church building at 1100 E. 454 S. About 15 people utilized the shelter that first night. Red Cross Disaster Volunteer, Jo-Lynn Hatch was on the scene and said, "Many of these people have lost everything they had." The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter will continue to work with the individuals in the coming days to help them get through the trauma of this fire and to help them get back on their feet. The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter of the American Red Cross responds to up to 100 incidents each year, some of them render multiple families homeless. Nationwide, the American Red Cross’s local chapters help victims of major and minor disasters by offering immediate comfort, which may include food, a warm place to stay, clothing and other life necessities. Volunteers give comfort kits to victims of fire, flood or other disasters. The kits include helpful items like toothbrushes, toothpaste and a toy for children. If you’d like to help, financial donations are always accepted to help victims of this fire and other disasters in your community.

For more information about donating to the Chapter Emergency Services please go to www.utahredcross.org or call 801.323.7000.

Helping Those in Need

The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter responded to a fire on Wednesday, December 10th in Salt Lake that burned 4 people out of their home. The disaster volunteers helped the individuals with immediate essential needs like clothing, food and shelter. Ironically, while these volunteers were running to a fire to help people, other volunteers were delivering thank you cards and poinsettia plants (donated by Smith’s) to the Chapter’s top 100 donors. Those people fund and support the Chapter efforts and help make it possible for us to respond to people in disasters and help prepare our community for disasters and emergencies!

Volunteer Jo wants to introduce you to Molly

Ya gotta meet Molly...

Meet Molly. She's a grey speckled pony who was abandoned by her owners when Hurricane Katrina hit southern Louisiana She spent weeks on her own before finally being rescued and taken to a farm where abandoned animals were stockpiled. While there, she was attacked by a pit bull terrier and almost died. Her gnawed right front leg became infected, and her vet went to LSU for help, but LSU was overwhelmed, and this pony was a welfare case. You know how that goes.

But after surgeon Rustin Moore met Molly, he changed his mind. He saw how the pony was careful to lie down on different sides so she didn't seem to get sores, and how she allowed people to handle her. She protected her injured leg. She constantly shifted her weight and didn't overload her good leg. She was a smart pony with a serious survival ethic. Moore agreed to remove her leg below the knee, and a temporary artificial limb was built. Molly walked out of the clinic and her story really begins there.

'This was the right horse and the right owner,'Moore insists. Molly happened to be a one-in-a-million patient. She's tough as nails, but sweet, and she was willing to cope with pain. She made it obvious she understood that she was in trouble. The other important factor, according to Moore , is having a truly committed and compliant owner who is dedicated to providing the daily care required over the lifetime of the horse. Molly's story turns into a parable for life in post-Katrina Louisiana The little pony gained weight, and her mane finally felt a comb A human prosthesis designer built her a leg. The prosthetic has given Molly a whole new life, Allison Barca DVM, Molly's regular vet, reports.

And she asks for it. She will put her little limb out, and come to you and let you know that she wants you to put it on. Sometimes she wants you to take it off too. And sometimes, Molly gets away from Barca. 'It can be pretty bad when you can't catch a three-legged horse,' she laughs. Most important of all, Molly has a job now. Kay, the rescue farm owner, started taking Molly to shelters, hospitals, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers Anywhere she thought that people needed hope. Wherever Molly went, she showed people her pluck. She inspired people, and she had a good time doing it. 'It's obvious to me that Molly had a bigger role to play in life,? Moore said. 'She survived the hurricane, she survived a horrible injury, and now she is giving hope to others.' Barca concluded, 'She's not back to normal, but she's going to be better. To me, she could be a symbol for New Orleans itself.'

The photo shows the ground surface that she stands on, which has a smiley face embossed in it. Wherever Molly goes, she leaves a smiley hoof print behind. Forward this and share it with others.

Submitted by Volunteer Jo-Lynn Hatch

Red Cross Class on HIV/Aids

Yesterday was World Aids Day. Anyone can take a Red Cross class about HIV/Aids. See utahredcross.org or call 801-323-7000.