Volunteers always needed

Folks looking for ways to help out area communities should consider volunteering for the Red Cross.

The Bears Paw District of the Red Cross is always looking for people to help with various projects, said Hannah Bryeans, executive director.

Bryeans said some 100 plus volunteers are doing Red Cross work in the area now.

"We have many volunteers as health and safety instructors," she said. "They teach health, safety and aquatics classes."

An 11-member Red Cross board provides guidance in areas likes funding and local service needs.

Then there are those volunteers who do special projects and make phone calls. Bryeans said they do everything from running errands to serving on the Red Cross Disaster Action Team.

Don't forget all those volunteers who serve in area blood drawings.

"Those people set up and tear down before and after the drawing," Bryeans said. "And they bring the refreshments along with operating the canteen, and they help out with registration of blood drawings as well."

In March alone there are four scheduled blood drawings in the Bears Paw District.

"We have a large project we are looking for volunteers right now for," Bryeans said. "We have a database set up for all of Montana and we need to input all information in it for the last fiscal year. That is not a difficult job but it is time-consuming."

In Glasgow on April 6 there will be a day of disaster service training. The training will be for all levels of disaster services. After taking the course, people will be qualified to assist with anything from house fires to major disasters in the state. There is only a materials cost for the workshop.

To volunteer or for more information about volunteers or the Glasgow workshop, contact Bryeans at (406) 265-1500.