Red Cross volunteers from Windsor area heading to Toronto

Red Cross volunteers are doing what they can to help the people of Toronto following the weekend's ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power.

The local Red Cross has sixty-five volunteers trained in disaster management, according to Donna Girard a manager with the organization. They've all been contacted and have been asked to help out in Toronto. 

"Our volunteers have the heart of gold," said Girard, who didn't know how many would be taking the trip up the 401 to the Toronto area.

Daniel Beveridge took that trip on Monday.  He didn't hesitate to leave home during the holiday season.

"If our family was in need right now I would hope there would be some help this way," he said. "My family is warm right now and well fed."

Volunteer Lorene Clayton plans on leaving for Toronto on Christmas morning. She said she was fine with being away from her Amherstburg home for the holiday. Her son was visiting from Texas, so she had a chance to spend time with him. The family turkey dinner was on Monday night.

"A disaster manager volunteer doesn't necessarily want to leave their family," said Clayton. "But we would love to be able to help those people who are in need of assistance at a particular time. Particularly at Christmas this must be very disconcerting for the people touched by the ice storm."

Beveridge, who also went to Goderich to help that community when a tornado ripped through in the summer of 2011, said helping people is a gift at any time of the year.

"When people have a need and you avail yourself to help them ... something gets filled up on the inside, too, I think," he said.