Volunteer no stranger to adversity
By Linda Kane, Tribune staff writer

Monday, November 14, 2005 2:21 PM CST

As a volunteer for the American Red Cross and coordinator for the Freeborn County Family Caregiver Network, Lenore Fries is no stranger to adversity.

She's seen people in need in many different situations and continues to work her hardest to make a difference.

As a volunteer with the American Red Cross for about eight years, Fries has traveled to many disaster sites, but none has been worse than the ravaged southern United States where hurricanes Katrina and Rita left a large path of destruction.

“This was an unprecedented disaster season,” Fries said.

After the hurricanes hit, Fries let the Red Cross know her availability and set out in mid-October for a three-week stint in Baton Rouge, La. She worked with a team of other volunteers and made calls and house visits to victims to assess their damages.

Fries said there was no way what little the Red Cross could provide would sustain a family for long. And though many suffered substantial damage to their homes, Fries said most people had lived there for generations and didn't want to move.


“They didn't want to leave,” she said. “You can never replace the things you've lost. You learn to be thankful you're alive and well.”

Fries saw plenty of black mold and houses that had shifted on their foundation. They were forever destroyed, yet people were unwavering on leaving.

“Even people in lovely brick homes, the hurricane forced water through the mortar,” she said. “I wouldn't want to live in a hurricane area.”

Though devastation was all around, the mood of many residents was light and friendly, Fries said.

“Some would sing and dance and entertain us. They wanted to feed us, but we didn't have time,” Fries said. Though, she was treated to several Cajun meals and gave them rave reviews.

Fries stayed in a staff shelter at a Methodist church with 200 people. Church members came in each day and cooked hot breakfasts and dinners for them, Fries said.

“They took our laundry home to wash and never complained,” she said. “It's that southern hospitality.”

Despite rougher conditions at the shelter, volunteers weren't there much as they worked 12-hour days. Plus, “we knew in three weeks we could go home to our beds and all our amenities,” Fries said.

Volunteers worked hard during their three-week stint and made lasting friendships.

“Because we're there a short time, you get along” with your teammates, she said. “You push yourself to get as much done as you can.”

Volunteers Fries, who'd been to New Orleans, which suffered the brunt of the hurricane damage, described it as a Twilight Zone.

“There were no cars, people, animals or birds. They said they had a feeling like they were the last person alive in the world,” Fries said. “People came back and had trouble sleeping.”

Volunteers would cry and get upset. She said mental health workers were on hand for volunteers and they had to be debriefed before returning home.

The volunteer operations were beginning to wind down when Fries left. She said Baton Rouge was the central location for emergency services. The Federal Emergency Management Agency had set up in a large warehouse staffed with hundreds of government employees.

Of volunteering, Fries said, “It really is nice to do it.”

(Contact Linda Kane at photodesk@albertleatribune.com or 379-3438.)
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