WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Jan. 20, 2020) — As we celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service today, the American Red Cross encourages residents to volunteer through its Home Fire Campaign throughout South Florida.
Through the Home Fire Campaign’s year-round Sound the Alarm events, volunteers and community partners spend a day going door-to-door to install free smoke alarms, share fire safety information and help families create escape plans at homes in at-risk communities.
Since launching more than five years ago, the campaign has installed more than 2 million free smoke alarms and saved nearly 700 lives nationwide, including installing more than 31,800 smoke alarms and making over 15,000 households safer across the South Florida Region. Basic training is provided to volunteers who want to join the campaign; visit SoundtheAlarm.org/SFL to get involved.
“Every eight minutes our Red Cross volunteers across the South Florida Region are responding to local disasters. Sadly, the majority of these disasters are home fires and our neighbors in the communities we serve need our support to help them and their families stay safe,” said Joanne Nowlin, chief executive officer for the South Florida Region. “We encourage everyone to take part in this rewarding experience of teaming with fellow volunteers to make homes safer and connect with local families.”
HOW TO VOLUNTEER As the nation honors the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., there are many ways that you can help in your community. The Red Cross is always in need of volunteers and has available positions in the following areas:
WHY I VOLUNTEER Tony Nazzaro, a Red Cross volunteer from the Southern Gulf Chapter shares why he volunteers for the Red Cross. ”I read a story when I was young, about a boy walking along the beach tossing starfish back in to the sea, when an old man said there were thousands of starfish on the beach and that he couldn’t possibly make a difference, the boy picked up another starfish and tossed it in to the sea, saying I made a difference to that one. That story has been a guiding light in my desire to volunteer, to make a difference, one person at a time. The American Red Cross allows me to fulfill that ability, we make a difference, one life at a time.”
To learn more about volunteer positions and how to get started, visit redcross.org/SFLVolunteer.
OTHER WAYS TO HELP Want to help in another way? You can make a financial donation to support the Red Cross mission by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 gift.
About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/southflorida and visit us on Facebook and Twitter at @SFLRedCross.
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