Soon after the news of the Earthquake in Haiti last week I frantically searched online for ways I could volunteer to help. I have some training from the San Francisco Fire Department with how to be a NERT volunteer following an earthquake and hoped there might be an opportunity to use my skills in some way.
And that's how I came across Julie Schwietert at the Matador Network who has been doing her best to use social media, networking and her clout to gather as much in-person and fiscal aid to help the people of Haiti as possible.
The over-all takeaway message from the experience this past week has been: if you want to help people during a disaster, GET QUALIFIED... especially as a medical / disaster response professional.
New Yorkers can take their first steps on this mission this MLK Monday (1/18/2010) by signing up for a free Disaster Reserve Training with the Red Cross here:
http://www.nyredcross.org/?nd=disaster_reserve_volunteer
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