by John A. Brimley

One of several American Red Cross Disaster Assessment Teams (DAT) set up in Jacksonville, Arkansas at Evangelistic Church Ministries Elm Street to distribute emergency supplies to the community with the idea that individuals or families could pick up the kits to assist with cleanup.

After a slow first hour, having only distributing two kits, the Jacksonville Chapter of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) requested the team move to a more strategic location on the City’s Main Street to be more visible. The move was a winning idea, but to help facilitate even more engagement, the NAACP helped put the show on the road.

“We just thought by driving through the neighborhood to pass out supplies we’d see more people and we could get them into the communities that really needed them,” said NAACP Vice President Reginald Ford.

Ford filled the bed of his pickup truck with supplies, and with one of the DAT members in tow, they headed into the community. Within two hours, the Red Cross box truck was empty, and Ford was pulling back into the St. Mark Community Church parking with only two kits remaining.

The rest of the DAT members remained at St. Mark Community Church where people began to pour into the parking lot to pick up supplies. Residents received rakes, shovels, work gloves, trash bags, mops, and more to aid in the cleanup.

Ford and his wife, Nicole, are volunteers with the Jacksonville NAACP. While the connection with the Red Cross was borne out of disaster, the newly minted relationship between Red Cross and the NAACP will rally around the cause of strengthening communities.

“I just appreciate them being willing to get out there and walk the streets,” Nicole said. “We’ve seen them park and hand out supplies. Everyone we’ve provided the Red Cross phone number to has given us positive feedback about their experience with the Red Cross.”

Nicole went on to say, “Just to see what the Red Cross does as a volunteer organization - it just goes hand-in-hand with what we do as the local NAACP branch, being out in the community, going door to door to see what the Jacksonville residents need and just being that assistance, so does the Red Cross. I just appreciate them being willing to get out there and walk the streets.”