Rotary provides Emergency Kits to Shenandoah Valley seniors
Woodstock – Homebound seniors in the Shenandoah Valley will receive emergency preparedness kits this month, courtesy of The Rotary Club of Woodstock. The local club applied for and received a matching grant from the Rotary District to fund the project as part of National Preparedness Month. Rotarians will personally distribute the emergency kits to more than fifty residents at their homes.
To implement the project, the Rotary Club has forged a strong partnership with the Shenandoah Area Agency on Aging (SAAA) and The American Red Cross. Distributing emergency kits and information to seniors is a project for which SAAA has been seeking funding for more than a year.
“We are delighted that Rotarians have created the impetus to bring this important service to our older citizens,” stated SAAA president and CEO, Helen Cockrell.
The kits, purchased from the American Red Cross, include an
emergency AM/FM radio, flash light, mask, safety goggles, first aid kit, whistle, water and other emergency supplies.
“Perhaps the most significant part of the project is that Rotarians will personally deliver each kit,” stated Mike Monahan, president of the Rotary Club of Woodstock. “Our members are being trained by the Red Cross on information to be presented on what residents should do in case of an emergency. They will explain how and when to use the components of the emergency kit.”
The SAAA is putting Rotarians in touch with homebound seniors served through their Meals on Wheels program. Distribution will take place in the second half of the month.
September has been designated as National Preparedness Month in a nationwide effort designed to increase awareness and encourage individuals, families, businesses and communities to take action and prepare for emergencies. The program is focused on helping citizens to become better prepared for and more resilient in the face of emergencies of all kinds.
For details, visit the Rotary Club of Woodstock’s web site.
