It’s a partnership that simply makes sense.
Members of SedonaKind met on Wednesday, March 24, at the home of Christine Schneider, a a SedonaKind board member and board member for the volunteer Arizona Crisis Team. Together, the members helped put together comfort kit backpacks for children during times of crisis.
According to their website, Arizona Crisis Team is a nonprofit organization that provides emotional, practical and resource assistance to citizens who have been impacted by any type of crisis.
“Our volunteer advocates are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year,” it states. “They respond on-scene when notified by emergency agencies to traumatic incidents, sexual assault, homicide, robberies, attempted or completed suicide, drowning, domestic violence, house fire, loss of loved ones and serious injury accidents.
“Volunteers are able to fully focus on the emotional, practical and resource needs of the family and/or individual in crisis while the police and fire personnel attend to law enforcement, medical emergency and fire suppression needs.”
Locally, volunteers assist with law enforcement and fire agencies throughout Yavapai County as well as area hospitals.
“When things are going on, often times it’s very chaotic and the kids don’t know what to do and they’re scared,” Schneider said. “The kits are something volunteers with the Sedona Crisis Team can have on hand to give to a child to let them know that they are being seen. It gives them something to do while the parents are doing what they have to do at that moment because they don’t have time to do both.”
Included in the bag are various games, a stuffed animal, activity and coloring books, and a positivity sign that encourages the child. Also included is a blank book entitled “Some of My Favorite Things,” which allows the child to write whatever he or she chooses.
“For example, if their grandmother died, it encourages them to write things that they loved about her,” she said. “Or even if it’s an emergency situation and the grandparent is in the hospital, it allows the child to send them something.”
In all, the group put together 100 bags that day. All will be distributed by ACT volunteers.
“The SedonaKind members of the ACT Comfort Kit project were all given a rare gift just being part of this afternoon,” SedonaKind’s Jawn McKinley said. “All of us have experienced grief or trauma in one way or another, and having the opportunity to lessen the pain of that for others, especially for young children, is the very essence of our mission.”
In most instances, ACT is not called to the scene of an incident until first responders arrive and deem that their assistance is needed. Their services are not limited to children. If someone is distraught and having a difficult time, volunteers are there to assist regardless of the person’s age, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
“Our volunteers are trained in how to speak to people, how to understand what they’re going through and how to help them understand what they’re going through is normal,” Schneider said. “They help people through that critical time when they’re just not themselves after having their lives turned upside down. We’re able to help them through it.”
For more information on ACT or to inquire about becoming a volunteer, visit azcrisisteam.org.
