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14 - The Oakville Beaver, Wednesday April 4, 2007 www.oakvillebeaver.com Easter egg-citement There to call in a crisis Continued from page 13 DEREK WOOLLAM / SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER SPECIAL VISITOR: The Easter Bunny was spotted at the Golden Griddle Pancake House Wednesday evening, to the delight of young Matthew Churchill, during a fundraiser for the Oakville Parent-Child Centre. babysitting, CPR and other safety courses the Red Cross is famed for delivering -- when it isn't meeting crisis needs at home or abroad. Upstairs, transportation supervisor Debbie Martini is at the helm of the very busy transportation program. The local branch's 43 volunteer drivers provided 60-80 rides daily or some 13,000 rides annually in 2006. For a nominal fee, the rides are available to the frail, seniors, vulnerable and disabled, to help them get to medical appointments and rehabilitation programs. The local branch also offers rental of non-powered healthcare equipment such as commodes, walkers and wheelchairs for use in private homes to anyone recovering from an injury, illness or surgery. It's called the Healthcare Equipment Loan Program (HELP) and last year the branch assisted more than 500 clients. Red Cross programs and services are available to everyone and fees and service vary according to program. Seasonal Allergies Oakville's Red Cross also is heavily involved in safety training, offering everything from babysitter training and water safety to CPR. The local branch offers safety courses including: standard first aid, emergency first aid, standard first aid re-certification, CPR recertification, babysitting and emergency child care first aid and CPR. In 2006, 392 people were certified in Red Cross safety courses and another 1,388 participated in non-certification courses. Volunteers at the local branch keep busy with all these efforts when not focused on disaster services, which is also a mainstay. As Robertson explains it disaster relief efforts occur at two levels. There are those at the international level -- local volunteers are called upon to travel to areas in need. They go if they choose. Then there are local efforts. The local Red Cross branch is contracted with Halton Region to run evacuation centres in case of a local emergency. If you have Seasonal Allergies, you may be eligible to participate in a clinical research study for a treatment with an investigational grass pollen vaccine. You will be compensated up to $700.00 for your time. Please call: Dr. A. S. Cheema @ 905·566·1200 It also assists, on a personal level, people in need. That is, for example, if a family is displaced because of a fire, the Red Cross has a list of hotels willing to put the family members up to cover the first 72 hours. "That would cover a long weekend," said Robertson, noting it's time enough for other agencies to be called upon and take action. The Red Cross works with community and social services and fire services to provide clothing, shelter, food and personal assistance in the immediate wake of a crisis. The Red Cross serves more than 145,000 residents in Oakville with the help of more than 100 volunteers. While it officially marks November as CPR month, it has been celebrating March as Red Cross month -- using the opportunity to spread the word about its work and to tip its hat to its volunteers. The Red Cross' local branch works here at home, and also further afield. It responds to thousands of disasters across Canada each year ranging from house fires to floods and tornadoes. In addition to Red Cross' disaster management program, the Red Cross offers many programs and services across Canada --from first aid and water safety, to Meals on Wheels and abuse prevention education -- called RespectEd. "We rely on the community and Canadians in general to support our programs," said Robertson, noting both the volunteer time and donations come from the general public. There's no way the Red Cross could do what it does without its volunteers. While it holds various fundraising efforts and has a donation program, the local unit's major fundraiser is its annual Black Tie & Golf Shoes event -- its 16th edition to be held at Glen Abbey Golf Club this year on Friday, Aug. 24. Oakville residents can make a difference by making a donation or by contacting the Oakville branch. The Oakville branch is open Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Visit www.redcross.ca, call 905-8455241 or e-mail oakville@redcross.ca. 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