Community responds

By Cheryl Klueppel

While Cape Girardeau has not received as much ice as northern portions of the state, we have been a part of the relief effort. Six people from the local Red Cross chapter are serving in northern Missouri. We are also seeing the effects closer to home.

Late Saturday night I received a call that icy weather had stranded eight buses of fans traveling from the NCAA Division II championship game in Florence, Ala. These 400 individuals were headed home to Maryville, Mo. The dangerous road conditions had stopped the buses in Cape Girardeau. We immediately began mobilizing our volunteers and resources.

Southeast Missouri State University's recreation services opened its doors in the middle of the night to provide a warm, safe place for people to sleep. The Red Cross provided cots and blankets. Volunteers and employees of the Red Cross and staff from university recreation center and resident life worked tirelessly through the cold, icy night to care for the stranded. Shelter residents awoke to breakfast donated by Schnucks and Rhodes 101 and items provided by the American Red Cross disaster relief fund.

The Red Cross does not only respond to highly visible events like hurricanes and wildfires, but also to thousands of smaller disasters in communities across the country every day. This emergency resource is provided by the disaster relief fund. I encourage the community to donate to this fund to ensure the ability of the Red Cross to respond.

The partnership between the Red Cross, Southeast Missouri State University, Schnucks and Rhodes 101 is a heartwarming example of the way a community can come together when disaster strikes. I want to thank Southeast Missouri State University, particularly the staff at recreation services and resident life, Schnucks, Rhodes 101 and the Red Cross volunteers for their dedication and quick response.

Cheryl Klueppel is the executive director of the Southeast Missouri Chapter of the American Red Cross in Cape Girardeau.