Arc volunteers assist Red Cross

Sept. 23--TUPELO -- From one Arc to another ARC, volunteers offered the local chapter of the American Red Cross a helping hand on Friday.

The Arc of Northeast Mississippi, which helps people with disabilities and their families, gathered to assist the American Red Cross replenish its stock of comfort kits.

"We do what we can to give back," said Cheryl Falzone, Arc of Northeast Mississippi director. "We try to do at least one community project a quarter."

The comfort kits, which are assembled from donated supplies, include simple toiletries like toothpaste, tooth brushes, wash clothes, soap, shampoo, combs and hair brushes. Crayons are sorted into kits to help entertain youngsters.

"We use them in all kinds of casework and disasters," said Joe Lukas, Red Cross volunteer who oversees operations and disaster services for the Northeast Mississippi chapter.

It's hard to say where the kits will go, Lukas said. They may end up helping a family displaced by fire or natural disaster locally or be sent to other parts of the country to help those in need. But the kits are a tangible expression of the care of the larger community for those facing a crisis, Lukas said.

"Even if they are in a shelter, they can wash their hands and face and brush their teeth," Lukas said, "anything to make them feel refreshed."

The Tupelo office usually keeps a reserve of about 80 comfort kits in stock. The chapter responds to crises in 31 counties in the northern third of the state.

"We usually have at least one house fire a day, every day," Lukas said.

But much of the chapter's stock of comfort kits were dispersed through the regional office as the Red Cross has ramped up to respond to recent hurricanes.

The extra hands of Arc volunteers are incredibly welcomed as Red Cross volunteers are deployed to hurricane affected areas like Florida and Texas, Lukas said.

Red Cross volunteers Ted Berchbill of Byhalia and Mike Egerton of Tupelo have been deployed on hardship assignments in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. They have committed 21 days of service to areas where they will likely have to live and work in adverse conditions, prepared to live in tents with water disruptions.

The community has been so supportive of Arc and people living with disabilities, that it is important for them to give back as they can, Falzone said.

"Our focus is to include people with disabilities in the community," Falzone said. "Volunteering is part of developing that sense of community."

michaela.morris@journalinc.com

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