By Lauren McMinn Clarke, American Red Cross

It’s Sunday afternoon at the Walnut Hill Recreation Center and the American Red Cross shelter is busy and full of both Hurricane Harvey evacuees and helpers.Mayor Mike Rawlings and his wife arrived earlier with other city officials to pray over lunch and welcome shelter residents in the makeshift cafeteria.

Mayor Mike Rawlings and his wife arrived earlier with other city officials to pray over lunch and welcome shelter residents in the makeshift cafeteria.American Red Cross volunteer Carol Gottlieb, 67, demonstrates

American Red Cross volunteer Carol Gottlieb, 67, demonstrates multitasking.  One minute she helps a 39-week pregnant shelter resident get good quality baby lotion for her itchy skin. “The lotion we had here wasn’t doing the trick, so we helped get her something that worked.” As soon as she finishes, a young girl comes to her, asking for a blanket. After that Carol quickly grabs a banana to eat. “My lunch…” she says. “I’ve been here two days, my legs are starting to hurt, but it’s ok.”Christy Burgess is the Dallas Parks & Recreation Manager of the Walnut Hill Recreation Center where the Red Cross shelter is housed. She and her team answer phones, empty trash bins, and keep the facility clean. “We have a very good team working around the clock, willing to do whatever’s necessary to help. We’re cleaning the bathrooms every hour and doing warehouse runs to refill supplies.”

Christy Burgess is the Dallas Parks & Recreation Manager of the Walnut Hill Recreation Center where the Red Cross shelter is housed. She and her team answer phones, empty trash bins, and keep the facility clean. “We have a very good team working around the clock, willing to do whatever’s necessary to help. We’re cleaning the bathrooms every hour and doing warehouse runs to refill supplies.”

Members of the City of Dallas Community Emergency Response Team (C.E.R.T.) help to carry cases of bottled water and unload supplies and donations coming in to the shelter. A Dallas county psychologist, Dr. John Lehman, is part of the Dallas County Medical Reserve Corps here in Dallas. He’s here to assist shelter residents with any mental health issues that may arise. “There is a long road ahead; soon it will start to settle in with folks here what it is like back at home.”The DFW Red Cross is actively working with our partners in Dallas to help our fellow Texans after Hurricane Harvey. And you can help, too. Please donate to Hurricane Harvey relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

The DFW Red Cross is actively working with our partners in Dallas to help our fellow Texans after Hurricane Harvey. And you can help, too. Please donate to Hurricane Harvey relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.