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Coco Warner Reporting Utah is known for its volunteerism and one of the national organizations that has benefited from that on a local level is the American Red Cross. All week, Coco Warner is going to be profiling some of Utah's great volunteers. This morning she joins us with someone from Red Cross's Great Salt Lake chapter.
Just about a year ago today, one of the most destructive hurricanes in U.S. history-- Hurricane Katrina hit-- and the American Red Cross was one of the first organizations on the scene. Salt Lake City resident Mo Ghandehari ended up being dispatched to the area.
Red cross volunteer Mo Ghandehari was dispatched within a few days, serving as a shelter manager in Louisiana.
Mo Ghandehari, American Red Cross: "First few days we didn't have any electricity or running water, so that was kind of a little challenging, but we did fine."
Helping people cope after Hurricane Katrina demonstrates what the Red Cross does on a large scale, but locally, Mo, as a member of the disaster action team, also helps people out on a smaller scale.
Mo Ghandehari, American Red Cross: "We respond to emergencies when we're asked. And our clients are, for example, fire departments. You know, sometimes we have a single family home, we'll have a multiple apartment fire."
When there's a larger emergency, Mo will load up a vehicle and take it on site. Just a few weeks ago, the Red Cross served families affected by an apartment fire in Midvale and Mo organized an overnight emergency shelter at a nearby elementary school. He says a big part of the job is remaining calm in a crisis and lending a listening ear.
Mo Ghandehari: "I feel good to be able to help out. Yeah, it feels good, you know."
This week, we'll be profiling some Utahns who really do a lot to help their community, but we know there are so many people out there doing great things. So, we'd like you to nominate your neighbors, your co-workers, your family members-- the people in your life who you think deserve a public thank you.
Then, we'll come out, knock on their door bright and early, and surprise them with a high-five, live on television.
