In the middle of the night, Jerry Kachenko’s husband Norm pulled her from bed. He had just returned to their home in Lacombe, Alberta. after working his usual 21-day shift in Edmonton. It was 1:30 a.m. and their house was in flames. Thankfully the two managed to escape the fire however their home and possessions were lost.

Stranded without a roof over their heads, without any possessions – not even the bare essentials – Jerry and Norm had little choice but to wait for their insurance needs to be met.

It was in this moment of need that the Canadian Red Cross responded to

provide vital support for the Kachenkos. The couple received food, clothing and hotel accommodations. “It just meant everything,” says Jerry. “If it wasn’t for the Red Cross, I don’t know where we would have gone.”

Through the tragedy, Jerry says she has found her silver lining – the new friends, including those at the Canadian Red Cross, who have helped her and Norm move forward.

“We’re the phoenixes. We’re coming out of the ashes,” Jerry says with optimism. “We will rise above this and we will march on.”

Sheltered through a fireJohn Sample

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IMPACT REPORTRESPONDER

Thank you!As a Canadian Red Cross Responder, you help provide critical assistance to vulnerable Canadians in times of emergency. We are able to provide timely, relevant humanitarian service to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from crisis thanks to your support.

Your compassion continues to help improve the lives of individuals and entire communities throughout the country.

Read how your monthly support is making an impact!

Stay ConnectedVisit us at redcross.ca

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Did You Know?Last year you helped

the Canadian Red Cross:

Directly assist 18,769 Canadians affected by disasters and emergencies

Respond to 2,289 disasters in Canada

Reach 145,175 people through our health and social programs

Support 49 emergency relief and recovery operations in 37 countries

Please open to view your Impact Report

Contact Us:

WeCare@redcross.ca 1-800-418-1111

We will be more than happy to assist you!

Trained to save a life – including her son’s Last February, Christine Morin gave her son Louis a piece of apple to teeth on, hoping it would sooth his sore gums. Instead, he choked and the apple completely blocked his airway. He didn’t cough, didn’t spit up, didn’t breathe, nor did he cry. Nothing was happening. He turned red, and then blue, his eyes started to bulge. Thankfully, Christine is a first aid instructor for the Canadian Red Cross and knew just what to do.

After calling 911, she put her skills into practice and started a technique for clearing Louis’ airway. “I immediately began the technique – body tilted forward, face down…the morsel didn’t just pop out – it took a long time!”

Louis, barely breathing, finally began to vomit and spit up. Medical personnel soon arrived and congratulated Christine on her quick intervention.

Christine is well aware that her training helped her save her son’s life. As soon as they returned home, she emailed all her friends who have children to tell them her story. “I thought it might motivate other parents to take first aid courses. I honestly wonder if I would have known what to do without my Canadian Red Cross first aid courses,” she says.

Supported through a family crisisThe Red Cross Family Support Program delivered in British Columbia provides emotional and practical support for parents and caregivers in times of crisis. At the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) we make a tremendous difference in the lives of many, including Krystal and Liam.

Liam was born with holes in his heart, hypertension and small lungs. From the moment he arrived, he was fighting for survival. Weighing just over seven pounds, his tiny lungs were struggling for air and his body fighting for survival.

It took a team of doctors and nurses seven hours to stabilize little Liam before he could be transferred from Prince

George to the NICU in Vancouver. Krystal accompanied him, leaving her husband and two-year-old son at home.

Without her husband, life in the hospital was tough for Krystal but Red Cross volunteers were by her side. She can’t express her gratitude for the Family Support Program volunteers who made her life at the hospital easier to bear.

Throughout the time that Krystal was alone

at the hospital, the volunteers would watch over Liam if there were

no nurses available.

“Every little bit helped! It was so greatly appreciated, relieving stress and making it easier. It’s hard when you’re away from home, you don’t realize how much the little things add up and how much help it is to receive support of any kind. The Red Cross volunteers were great,” says Krystal.

When Krystal had difficulty obtaining the machinery Liam needed to continue his recovery at home, the Red Cross lent all of the necessary machinery and equipment through our Children’s Medical Equipment Loans Program.

“The equipment loan was a huge financial relief. We are so thankful for the generosity of the Red Cross volunteers and programs,” says Krystal.

Rescued from a floodIn Ontario, Canadian Red Cross disaster teams have been working hard to help those communities affected by severe flooding at the end of April. As this emergency unfolded, Red Cross disaster responders were there to open evacuation/reception centres, to make sure people had food, water and shelter when floods forced them from their homes.

In Black River, many families were forced to evacuate when their houses were flooded with more than three feet of water. 70-year-old Angelo had just arrived home from the hospital the day flooding began. He woke his wife up at 1 a.m to tell her they had to get out immediately.

Thanks to your monthly support, Angelo and his wife were able to return to their home.

When he could access his property again a few days later, Angelo could see that they’d lost everything – including treasured family photos. Still he greeted the Red Cross with tears in his eyes and thanked our volunteers for helping him and his wife. “I want people to know this isn’t just a flood. This is a disaster,” he said.

Across the Kawartha Lakes and Ramara township areas, more than 80 Red Cross volunteers visited more than 800 homes. Dedicated teams went door to door to check on neighbours, to make sure those affected by floods were safe and well and to distribute clean-up kits as needed.

Responder Impact Report

Krystal and Liam in hospital

Red Cross volunteers make sure families are safe and any needs are recorded and brought to attention.

Trained to save a life – including her son’s Last February, Christine Morin gave her son Louis a piece of apple to teeth on, hoping it would sooth his sore gums. Instead, he choked and the apple completely blocked his airway. He didn’t cough, didn’t spit up, didn’t breathe, nor did he cry. Nothing was happening. He turned red, and then blue, his eyes started to bulge. Thankfully, Christine is a first aid instructor for the Canadian Red Cross and knew just what to do.

After calling 911, she put her skills into practice and started a technique for clearing Louis’ airway. “I immediately began the technique – body tilted forward, face down…the morsel didn’t just pop out – it took a long time!”

Louis, barely breathing, finally began to vomit and spit up. Medical personnel soon arrived and congratulated Christine on her quick intervention.

Christine is well aware that her training helped her save her son’s life. As soon as they returned home, she emailed all her friends who have children to tell them her story. “I thought it might motivate other parents to take first aid courses. I honestly wonder if I would have known what to do without my Canadian Red Cross first aid courses,” she says.

Supported through a family crisisThe Red Cross Family Support Program delivered in British Columbia provides emotional and practical support for parents and caregivers in times of crisis. At the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) we make a tremendous difference in the lives of many, including Krystal and Liam.

Liam was born with holes in his heart, hypertension and small lungs. From the moment he arrived, he was fighting for survival. Weighing just over seven pounds, his tiny lungs were struggling for air and his body fighting for survival.

It took a team of doctors and nurses seven hours to stabilize little Liam before he could be transferred from Prince

George to the NICU in Vancouver. Krystal accompanied him, leaving her husband and two-year-old son at home.

Without her husband, life in the hospital was tough for Krystal but Red Cross volunteers were by her side. She can’t express her gratitude for the Family Support Program volunteers who made her life at the hospital easier to bear.

Throughout the time that Krystal was alone

at the hospital, the volunteers would watch over Liam if there were

no nurses available.

“Every little bit helped! It was so greatly appreciated, relieving stress and making it easier. It’s hard when you’re away from home, you don’t realize how much the little things add up and how much help it is to receive support of any kind. The Red Cross volunteers were great,” says Krystal.

When Krystal had difficulty obtaining the machinery Liam needed to continue his recovery at home, the Red Cross lent all of the necessary machinery and equipment through our Children’s Medical Equipment Loans Program.

“The equipment loan was a huge financial relief. We are so thankful for the generosity of the Red Cross volunteers and programs,” says Krystal.

Rescued from a floodIn Ontario, Canadian Red Cross disaster teams have been working hard to help those communities affected by severe flooding at the end of April. As this emergency unfolded, Red Cross disaster responders were there to open evacuation/reception centres, to make sure people had food, water and shelter when floods forced them from their homes.

In Black River, many families were forced to evacuate when their houses were flooded with more than three feet of water. 70-year-old Angelo had just arrived home from the hospital the day flooding began. He woke his wife up at 1 a.m to tell her they had to get out immediately.

Thanks to your monthly support, Angelo and his wife were able to return to their home.

When he could access his property again a few days later, Angelo could see that they’d lost everything – including treasured family photos. Still he greeted the Red Cross with tears in his eyes and thanked our volunteers for helping him and his wife. “I want people to know this isn’t just a flood. This is a disaster,” he said.

Across the Kawartha Lakes and Ramara township areas, more than 80 Red Cross volunteers visited more than 800 homes. Dedicated teams went door to door to check on neighbours, to make sure those affected by floods were safe and well and to distribute clean-up kits as needed.

Responder Impact Report

Krystal and Liam in hospital

Red Cross volunteers make sure families are safe and any needs are recorded and brought to attention.