This week, the American Red Cross&8217; Adams County chapter housed and fed in three shelters more than 600 people who fled their homes in Louisiana, Florida, Alabama and the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

To do so took the efforts of, at one time or another, more than 100 volunteers, from food service personnel to nurses to others who simply routed evacuees to the right places for help.

The local chapter&8217;s efforts are part of a nationwide effort &8212; and, through affiliated organizations such as the Red Crescent, a global effort &8212; that involves thousands upon thousands of volunteers each year.

According to the organization&8217;s Web site, each year the American Red Cross mobilizes relief to victims of more than 60,000 disasters nationwide.

Each year, the organization trains more than 11 million people in life saving skills, provides health services to 1.8 million people and provides more than 22 million with community services.

In addition, it helps victims of international disasters and conflicts in more than 50 countries. It transmit more than 500,000 messages between members of the military and their families.

In all, more than 1.2 million people volunteered for the American Red Cross in fiscal 2002 alone, including dedicated die-hards who have served the Adams County chapter for many years.

But according to John Goodrich, executive director of the Adams County chapter, even more volunteers are needed to help make sure the Red Cross can continue to accomplish its mission.

To volunteer, one only needs to contact at the chapter office on Union Street and take a course in the area in which he wants to volunteer.

Most concentrations, such as mass care or shelter management, only take a short course and/or take-home videotape to master, Goodrich said.

To be dispatched as part of a disaster relief team to other areas &8212; such as Red Cross volunteer Ann Thornhill recently was, to a hurricane-hit Florida &8212; one needs to take a course of only 20 hours.

Not bad, considering the amount of good a Red Cross volunteer can do for someone in their time of need.

To learn more, you can also go to the disaster preparedness event scheduled for 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at Natchez Mall.

And of course, the Red Cross is always in need of donations to carry out its work. American Red Cross memorials and donations may be mailed to P.O. Box 583, Natchez, MS 39121.

Accolades keep coming

Citizens who have gone above and beyond the call of duty and businesses that given back to the community continue to be recognized by Mayor Phillip West and the Board of Aldermen.

In their Tuesday meeting, city officials recognized AMR employee Rosa Newman and Norma Hancock of Riverpark Medical Center as part of the city&8217;s Presentations Representing Our Unique Diversity (PROUD) program. Newman and Hancock, Mayor West said, went beyond their duties to make sure that cancer patient not otherwise eligible for transportation assistance got to a doctor&8217;s appointment.

Officials recognized First Natchez Radio as the city&8217;s Business of the Month. The group, which was established in 1949, operates WANT 1450 AM, WQNZ 95 Country, KISS 97.3 and 105.1 The Groove. It employs 11 people full-time and four part-time.

City Editor

Nita McCann

can be reached at 445-3554 or at nita.mccann@natchezdemocrat. com.