By Daily Press staff
The Santa Monica chapter of the American Red Cross is hard at work, providing aid of all kinds to victims of Hurricane Katrina.
A “Hurricane Katrina Relief drive-through” fundraiser has been scheduled at the Santa Monica chapter at 1450 11th St., Saturday, Sept. 10, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. The event is being co-sponsored by the Santa Monica chapter and KTTV Fox 11. The event will allow persons who wish to donate money the opportunity to drive in, drop off monetary donations to a Red Cross volunteer and go on about their daily activities.
Since the disaster, hundreds of Santa Monicans — ranging from children who’ve sold cookies and lemonade to raise money to local businesses and individuals who have written and personally delivered five-figure checks.
In addition to the estimated $200,000 in donations received, the chapter has recruited and has begun training hundreds of volunteers — many of whom may be deployed in disaster relief work anywhere the American Red Cross has shelters and service centers.
The American Red Cross has set up a “fast track” system to make it easier for volunteers to get basic disaster relief training so they can get in the field fast, and provide aid and comfort to hurricane victims. Two recent orientation classes saw 180 people filling out questionnaires, going through orientation and taking the two required “condensed” classes. Some individuals drove to the Santa Monica Chapter from as far away as San Diego to begin the process of becoming a Hurricane Katrina disaster relief volunteer.
“Two disaster volunteers from the Santa Monica chapter are already on scene,” said Robert Chatman, director of disaster services for the chapter. “Karen Sue Donoho has been deployed to Picayune, Ala., and Christy Courtemanche is working in a shelter in Houston, Texas, where flood victims were bussed from New
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 9, 2005. Read the original PDF.