Volunteers Are ‘Arrested’ for a Good Cause

Peter Gaudet of Tarzana didn’t know what kind of trouble he was getting into by going to the American Red Cross to donate blood.

But when he walked into the Red Cross district office in Van Nuys during his lunch break, he was handcuffed and thrown into jail.

The “charges”--being a good person.

Gaudet was among the participants in the Red Cross’ annual jail-and-bail fund-raiser Tuesday, in which volunteers turned themselves in to be “arrested.”

They were then “charged” with crimes like “having a kind heart,” and given the option of shelling out $300 for bail or calling as many friends as needed to pledge donations.

The money raised will go toward operating the organization’s Van Nuys office, said Julia Montez, the executive director of the San Fernando Valley district office.

“They’re holding me here until I raise money for the Red Cross. Come on. Donate $10,” Gaudet said to a friend he called while in the makeshift jail cell where he was surrounded by other “inmates” who were also on telephones.

With a huge stack of business cards in front of him, Juan Granada, a Red Cross board member, called fellow volunteers involved in community services to post his “bail”.

Although he admitted it is not always easy to get people to donate money, Granada said the Red Cross’ reputation, especially since the Northridge earthquake, helps coax them into giving.

“People will listen to you because they know it’s for a good cause,” Granada said.