Paul Fischer

    Saturdays. For many, it's the day when they do what they want to. The work week is over, and now they have time to give themselves a break or work on a project. In Jewish history, the seventh day of the week was even a day when rest and relaxation were demanded of you.
     But for a small group of people in Utica on June 23, their Saturday morning and afternoon were spent learning how to be more compassionate; they were learning how to be American Red Cross disaster aid volunteers.
     The free class, which focused on client casework, was taught by Lincoln residents Ken and Mary Jones, who are heavily involved in disaster aid in Lancaster County.
     Mary Jones said the class's purpose was to instruct volunteers on how to make client assistance cards (cards for disaster clients that can be used like credit cards to purchase basic needs such as food and clothing) and disperse orders so people have their immediate needs met.
     "The immediate needs [of clients] are clothing, shelter or food," she said. "Those are the things we are concerned about right off the bat."
     The class is required for volunteers interested in becoming members of the local Disaster Aid Team for the American Red Cross.
     The local Red Cross chapter is currently rebuilding its DAT team members in Seward, York, Fillmore and Thayer counties.
     Seward resident and Concordia University student Travis Prochaska said he thought the class was very useful.
     "I think the biggest way it will benefit is when I'm called to a disaster I'll have more confidence in what I am doing now," he said.
     Mary Jones said the makeup of the class was very diverse. Yet there is one characteristic every volunteer must have.
     "I think anybody that cares about people and has compasion for people would be a wonderful volunteer and they would enjoy being on the DAT team," she said, "because that's what it's all about."