Answer 8
Yes. Persons with medical training are especially needed in the Health Services area and we do ask that you consider helping even if you can only be a consultant. Generally the Red Cross will assign their own 24-hour nursing staff for the duration of the shelter operation, but additional medical personal can be helpful to provide needed breaks for them. Pharmacy needs were very much in demand at our shelter during hurricane Rita.
Law enforcement personnel are needed to help with security and logistics. It is important to keep the church campus safe for both the shelter residents and church programming staff. If you have any training in social services, counseling, etc., your skills are helpful in the Client Services area, where confidentiality is very important. Mechanics are valuable, as many clients arrive with cars in need of repair after an unexpected exodus.
Some shelter residents come with their pets, so veterinary skills or contacts the shelter may need cages, food or medical treatment for the pets. Computer knowledge is helpful to set up a computer lab and great cooks are needed to keep meals feeling like home cooking to those who may not have a home.