Media Contact:
Christine Welch, Regional Communications Director
christine.welch@redcross.org
 

Twentynine Palms, Calif. (August 14, 2025) – The Red Cross of San Bernardino County is inviting the community to learn how to open, operate and close a disaster shelter at their upcoming Red Cross Shelter Fundamentals Training on Saturday, August 16, 2025. The training will take place from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the Twentynine Palms Community Center & Freedom Plaza.

The Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters each year, and one of the most important steps in disaster relief is ensuring that those who have been displaced have a place to go. A Red Cross shelter is a temporary, comforting refuge that provides safe shelter, warm meals, health services, information and recovery services and more.

Red Cross volunteers often serve in the communities in which they live – neighbors helping neighbors. With 90% of the Red Cross workforce being volunteers, it is crucial that volunteers – and potential volunteers – know the fundamental steps in establishing an emergency shelter.

At the end of the Red Cross Shelter Fundamentals Training, attendees will be able to explain the Red Cross principles of sheltering, identify the needs of individuals staying at shelters, describe different types of shelters, identify how a shelter operates, understand the type of duties that shelter workers will perform and more.

To sign up, please email April Ramirez at aramirez@29palms.org.

For more information about the American Red Cross of San Bernardino County, please visit redcross.org/SoCal.
 

About the American Red Cross   
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with the Southern California Region on X, Instagram, YouTube or Facebook.

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