More than 100 CT Volunteers Trained to Help Children During Disasters

As a result of five intensive workshops this year, 110 Connecticut residents are ready to help children in the midst of disasters. 

The effort, dubbed the CT Project, involved establishing Children's Disaster Services volunteers in the state. 

The organization focuses on the emotional needs of children during disasters — helping parents in the process — especially during extended shelter situations resulting from devastating storms, tornadoes, hurricanes and other situations. Generally small teams of volunteers mobilize to help where needed, whether it's one's own town or halfway across the country. 

Since January, five workshops were held throughout the state, training the 110 residents as well as several from out of the state. 

Canton resident Bruce Lockwood, with help from his family and others, led the effort to establish the program in Connecticut. He said the great thing about the state workshops was seeing a diverse mix of people work together. People came from all backgrounds and ranged from age 18 to over 60 .

"That's what's incredible about this program," he said. "Diverse people come together to meet the needs of the kids." 

Already those volunteers are ready to deploy but work remains, Lockwood said. The next step will be to send some of those people to real-life situations so they can learn more and assume more responsibility. 

"Now we need people who understand leadership roles," he said. 

Since each team needs a leader, training local people for those roles will allow teams from the state to mobilize much more quickly, Lockwood added. 

Already CDS has developed relationships with the American Red Cross and many others but now organizers will also reach out to emergency managers throughout the state so they know the service is available. 

Another piece of the process has been funding. While Lockwood initially thought the effort would cost more than $25,000, adjustments, donated services, donated food and more allowed the group to do it for less than half that. 

The other good news about budget is the group is only about $2,500 short, Lockwood said. 

To help reach the goal, the group is selling colorful T-shirts for $20, available at https://www.booster.com/connecticut-project?popup=true

(Please note shirts would be printed after Christmas). 

See more about the training in this previous Patch article. 

To see more about the group, other ways to give and to keep up with updates, follow the organization on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/TheCTProject