Canton Resident Looks to Help Children During Disasters

While parents may have to deal with safety, shelter and other essential needs during a natural disaster, the short- and long-term effects on children often go unnoticed.

Knowing that kids can be vulnerable — and that parents often need some relief — a group of area residents is looking to build a team volunteers that can provide a network of support for kids in shelters and other disaster situations.

It’s called the CT Project and its aim is to bring a program called Children’s Disaster Services to the state. The program relies on a team of volunteers specifically geared toward helping children.

Canton resident Bruce Lockwood feels there is a need for such a program in the state.

Lockwood was a member of the National Commission for Children in Disasters established by Congress, serves as co-chair of the state’s Children Emergency Preparedness Committee and has years of experience in fire services, homeland security and more. In his travels he’s seen several groups that cater to children and feels that Children’s Disaster Services is the best.

“I’m a huge fan of this program,” Lockwood said.

Over the next year, the project is looking to raise some $28,000 to bring the program to Connecticut.

The funds would pay for portable cribs, “comfort” kits with imaginative children's toys, training and background checks to create five regional teams of 25 people, and a trailer to transport the items to disaster sites or shelters, Lockwood said. 

Members of the team would be trained to recognize children’s emotional needs, carry imaginative toys and give parents or guardians a breather as they deal with other issues.

During an emergency, volunteers also perform such tasks as setting up childcare centers in shelters.

Lockwood also emphasized that background checks are routinely performed since volunteers would be working with children.

After last fall, Lockwood and others were motivated to get the project going. 

“October to me was the wake-up call,” Lockwood said. “There’s an absence of this type of program in Connecticut. This is us saying there’s a gap here.”

While the teams would come in handy for such situations, disasters more often affect smaller areas. The teams would give emergency officials a resource and the organization often works with the American Red Cross. Volunteers can even help with disasters in other parts of Connecticut or out of state but there is no obligation to respond to any particular situation.

The large number of volunteers increases the odds that a small group of six can come together when needed, Lockwood said. The Children’s Disaster Services central office is an invaluable resource to help put together such teams, Lockwood added.

Although it’s a program of Church of the Brethren, Lockwood said it is not a religious one and one's faith or lack thereof is not a factor in volunteering.

He also added that volunteers come from all walks of life.

“You end up with a great mix of people that a lot of time is reflective of their communities

Support can be offered through in Canton. Visitors can visit the bank directly to donate directly to the effort or purchase bracelets.

For more information and to keep track of updates and locally scheduled fundraisers visit http://www.facebook.com/TheCTProject.

For more information on Children's Disaster Services, visit http://www.brethren.org/cds/.