Dear Cassy: Volunteering for fire victims
As the holidays approach many people volunteer to help others in their times of need. Helping others has a positive impact on our own mental health. It puts life in perspective and takes us out of our bubble of worries — if only for an hour or two. Most recently, I had the opportunity to volunteer at the Palisades Charter School in Pacific Palisades as a disaster mental health team member with The Red Cross. This was one of four shelters opened in response to the horrific Woolsey fire. Most Red Cross shelters are housed within public schools. Many coexist with the students if school is still in session. At Palisades Charter High School we were housed in a large gym. We protected the floor with tarps and put out over 40 cots. We made the cots up with blankets and sheets and provided disposable towels. These disposable towels are really just big paper towels. The blankets are thin and scratchy. We were very fortunate to have an abundance of donations from the local community. They donated plush blankets, towels and soft pillows. This comfort goes a long way. We were also fortunate to receive plenty of donated food and toiletries. People coming to the shelter were as diverse as the…
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