Local volunteers head into Hurricane Sandy aftermath

POULSBO — Three American Red Cross relief workers from Kitsap are in or are headed to New York and Pennsylvania to assist in relief efforts there in the wake of Hurricane Sandy.

Kathleen Gallagher of Poulsbo left Saturday for Pennsylvania, where she is working in logistics, making sure support gets where it's needed.

Paul Bulduc of Poulsbo and Jerry Morrow of Tahuya were scheduled to leave Wednesday afternoon for White Plains, N.Y. Bulduc will serve as a client case work supervisor.

Courtney Smurdon of Bremerton was scheduled to fly out to White Plains Thursday morning.

A total of six Red Cross volunteers form Kitsap and North Mason counties are joining other disaster workers from around the country.

Bulduc, who is trained as a case worker, will be helping people "get back on their feet," Red Cross spokeswoman Stephanie Gruss said. That work will include moving people from temporary shelter to more permanent housing.

A natural disaster must be declared by the president of the United States before Red Cross deploys volunteers from across the country, Gruss said.

The wildfires burning in Wyoming this summer and into the fall were the most recent disaster Red Cross responded to nationwide.

How to help

Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org or calling (800) 733-2767 (RED-CROSS). People can also text REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the local American Red Cross office at 811 Pacific Ave., Bremerton, WA 98337 or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013.

 

Contact North Kitsap Herald Education/Sports Reporter Kipp Robertson at krobertson@northkitsapherald.com or (360) 779-4464.

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