A disaster like the earthquake in Haiti brings out the giving spirit of Americans.

The National Red Cross was overwhelmed with the amount of donations people pledged during the Haiti disaster. But many local chapters, including South Central Minnesota Red Cross in Mankato, are worried that funds will not be available at the community level.

“Our goals have not changed, but we are a little nervous that people only have so many dollars to give to charitable organizations, and a lot of people have stepped forward and given to Haiti,” said Bob Meyer, executive director of the South Central Minnesota Red Cross. “(We are) hoping that people still have money to donate to our local chapter here.”

Meyer realizes that the economy may be partly to blame.

“We have seen a decrease in donations because of the economy, and we understand completely,” Meyer said. “We’ve seen people that may have donated a larger amount in the past (not be able to donate this year), but we have seen others step up.”

Meyer said his chapter expects to be about $25,000 short of its fundraising goal of $150,000 when the fiscal year ends June 30. Despite the shortfall, they have increased next year’s goal to $175,000.

“We’re stepping it up because we know it’s very achievable and can help our local programs,” he said.

Aside from monetary donations, Meyer said the chapter is always looking for volunteers.

“Money, time, blood are the top three ways people can help out their local chapter,” said Meyer.

Meyer said his chapter gathered 14,000 units of blood last year, which was used in area hospitals. But most of the work is done behind the scenes preparing for disasters that can and will happen, including training mental health volunteers to assist victims after events such as house fires, tornadoes or other emergencies.

Walter Roberts, a professor of counseling education at Minnesota State University, has been volunteering for the Red Cross in Mankato since 2005.

“Like many people, I felt compelled to get involved with the disaster of Hurricane Katrina,” said Roberts. “I was raised in the South and had some connections with New Orleans and felt a very strong pull to try and provide some kind of contribution.”

Roberts decided to use his 22 years of experience as a mental health professional to volunteer as a Red Cross disaster mental health responder.

Between two different volunteer shifts in 2005 and 2006, Roberts spent about five to six weeks in New Orleans.

“Depending upon the nature of the disaster, the work can have long hours, can be emotionally draining, can be physically draining,” he said. “A lot of it is being confronted with things that can very well happen to you as well. A lot of times you are kind of faced with your own mortality crisis.”

In addition to donating food, clothing and shelter to those who are in need during disasters and emergencies, Roberts said the Red Cross also covers the travel expenses of the volunteers.

“Many times I am sleeping on a cot with clients at the shelter,” he said. “We clearly aren’t staying at five-star hotels. I prefer to stay with the clients, so it gives me better access to them. It sends a very strong message to clients: We are just like you, and we are here to help at all times.”

Most of Mankato’s Red Cross responses are local, such as responding to house fires or tornado damage in the area.

“Everybody needs to understand that anybody at any particular time could find themselves in a disaster,” said Roberts. “And disasters are equal-opportunity employers. They hit the wealthy, they hit the poor, they hit across the social economic spectrum.”

Despite the challenges, Roberts said he has enjoyed being able to offer his services to those in need.

“It’s rewarding to be able to operate in the immediate aftermath of the disaster, to be able to help people in their worst times in need,” he said. “It’s a way of giving back, and I would clearly like to think that whatever it is I give back to people, in a time of need, someone else may be able to help me in that point in time.”