Don Wolford, of Dowagiac, is an electrical contractor and a longtime volunteer with the Cass County Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program, which provides training to citizens to assist first-responders in the case of emergency. Wolford recently volunteered his time to help out with the Dowagiac Candle-light Christmas Parade, which took place last Friday.

 

Q: How long have been volunteering with CERT?

My wife and I went to the first training, which had to be about 15 years ago. We were in the first group with CERT. We heard of the organization through Patty [Klug, a coordinator with the program] and several other people, and we went to the first training for it.

 

Q: Made you want to volunteer?

You have to give back to the community. With CERT, I received extensive first-aid training. With the business I’m in and the people and places I see, I can help assist if they need assistance…it’s not just first aid, it’s also traffic directing. I’ve stopped at accidents before, and the police will readily accept you because we carry our vest and things, and we can help direct traffic. We’re first responders for any kind of emergency like that.

 

Q: How did you help out during the parade?

There were probably 30 to 40 of us. We volunteered and we did the lineup. They gave us a sheet with the lineup and we were given a different street area. We welcome the floats and the people in our group to Dowagiac, and we thank them for coming out and get them lined up so the parade comes through. You go street by street; you have an assigned set of numbers and you wait for them to go by.

 

Q: How long have you been helping out with the parade?

About five or six years.

 

Q: What’s the biggest thing you’ve gotten out of working with CERT?

I don’t look for anything. I get enjoyment out of knowing I responded, that I was able to go help. That’s all I get out of it.

 

Q: Is there anything you would say to encourage people to get involved with CERT?

It’s a very, very good training ground for anybody…it’s just to give you a mindset of what can happen and how you can help.

 

People interested in participating in upcoming CERT training courses can find out more by calling their local law enforcement agency.