New handheld translation devices are helping Indiana Region Red Cross staff and volunteers provide more effective and equitable support to linguistically diverse community members. The voice and text translators support 85 languages from around the world. They arrived in the Indiana Region in August, thanks to the generosity of the Meridian Foundation. Since these devices arrived, volunteers and staff have used them at several events.
During a smoke alarm installation in Indianapolis in late August, Disaster Program Manager Brittany Crowe, intern Olivia Brown and volunteer Corey Freeman used the translation device to provide vital home fire safety education to two families.
“The first home was Spanish-speaking only and the device was crucial to the success of the installation and education session,” said Brittany.
Across the Indiana Region, each of the five chapters received translation devices.
After a multi-family fire in Indianapolis in September, Red Cross disaster workers were able to assist neighbors in 11 apartments. Red Cross disaster workers opened a shelter and used the translation device to communicate with Spanish and Haitian Creole-speaking families. They were used to share shelter updates, coordinate meal orders and inform the families about resources available to them. Shelter Feeding Lead Tammy Brownlee also used it to translate a menu.
In the Northwest Chapter, the devices were used to communicate with several Spanish-speaking families during a smoke alarm installation event. As a result, the team successfully installed 17 smoke alarms in nine homes. It enabled the volunteers to introduce themselves and explain how the Red Cross was able to help the families, while communicating in their primary language.
The translation devices are enhancing service delivery across the Indiana Region, and staff and volunteers are grateful for the new tool, which allows them to better serve the community.
Written by Janie Bohlmann, regional communications manager.