DISASTER AID

For people involved in disasters, such as fires, floods or earthquakes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, clothing or first-month rent.

“Some people have a wonderful base of support,” Roberts said. “Other people don’t have that.”

Twenty-two people from the area are trained in assisting in disasters such as these.

Roberts pointed out that once a person is trained, he or she can help people anywhere, because the Red Cross training is universal.

Volunteers are allowed to choose in what field they want to become skilled.

LOCAL FUNDING

The organization doesn’t receive state or federal assistance; it is totally funded by a few annual fundraisers and by community donations.

The largest fundraiser is Fire & Ice, a Texas buffet with both live and silent auctions, to be held this year at the Comfort Inn on April 5.

The Naked Turtle hosted its first-annual Cinco de Mayo celebration in 2007, with proceeds going to the local Red Cross. Once again this year, the establishment will offer the Mexican event, tentatively scheduled for May 1.

People wishing to attend the Cinco de Mayo should call the Red Cross at 561-7280 for prices of tables for businesses and individuals.

A new fundraiser will take to the road this year — a motorcycle ride on June 25.

The organization depends on three programs where charges subsidize what the fundraisers don’t bring in for revenue: cardiopulmonary-resuscitation program, lifeguard training and the Lifeline program, which is a medical-alert system that allows the elderly and disabled to live safely in their own homes.