Hubbard declares March Red Cross Month in Albany

ALBANY — Just weeks after volunteers from across the country came to Albany to help the community recover from two brutal January storms that displaced residents, took lives and caused millions of dollars worth of damage, Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard recognized the efforts of American Red Cross volunteers by proclaiming March American Red Cross Month in the city.

Hubbard was joined in her office Friday morning by American Red Cross Southwest Georgia Chapter Executive Director Andy Brubaker and Red Cross board member Briley Edwards. She read the proclamation and urged area citizens to continue supporting the agency that fed, sheltered and nourished hundreds of residents following those brutal storms.

“In the city of Albany, we have a history of helping our neighbors in need,” Hubbard said. “American Red Cross Month is a special time to recognize and to thank our heroes, those Red Cross volunteers and donors who give of their time and resources to help our community members.

“I urge the citizens of Albany to support this organization and its noble, humanitarian mission.”

Hubbard said recognition of the charitable organization that operates around the world was especially poignant in light of recent events during which Red Cross officials and volunteers became an integral part of the post-storm recovery process and helped guide local leaders as they worked to care for the community.

“It’s really exciting for me,” said Hubbard. “I was delighted to declare this month Red Cross Month. It really means a lot to me and to this community now. We have seen firsthand what the Red Cross actually does.

“As we were opening and trying to determine where the centers (for displaced citizens) should be, they were right here to help us to be able to do that. As we were trying to figure out the numbers and who would be where, they were right here to help us do that.

“You know, we could not have made it in January and in early February without their assistance.”

Brubaker, who assumed the director’s role last fall, just days before Hurricane Matthew slammed the east coast of the country, reported that the volunteer support following the Jan. 2 storm and the Jan. 22 tornado was tremendous with more than 500 volunteers coming to the Albany area to lend a hand.

“We couldn’t do it without volunteers,” Brubaker said. “We had over 550 volunteers in town, from all over (the country).”

Both Brubaker and Hubbard praised out-of-town and local volunteers alike, with Hubbard adding that in addition to their willingness to help, the volunteers she encountered were also knowledgeable and skilled.

“We had volunteers in our city, I just heard over 500 volunteers, who helped us to get through the disaster, which was one of the things that they really do,” the mayor said. “And I can tell you that they do it well.

“Our community depends on the American Red Cross, which relies on donations of time, money and blood to fulfill this humanitarian mission. They certainly were of great assistance to us, and they are of great assistance to everyone else in this country.”

For Brubaker, having Hubbard officially recognize the work of the American Red Cross and its volunteers served as validation that those individuals were not only carrying out their humanitarian mission the right way, their efforts were recognized.

“It’s a tremendous statement of appreciation for the hard work that our volunteers and donors put forth in helping the city of Albany and the surrounding region of Southwest Georgia,” he said. “Their efforts are not going unnoticed. For the mayor to make this proclamation just exemplifies their work.”