The American Red Cross Indiana Region is issuing an urgent appeal for volunteers to join our disaster team to help locally and/or deploy for major national disaster relief efforts.

Interested community members are urged to sign up today at redcross.org/volunteer. All candidates must complete the necessary training. Applicants who don’t have disaster experience, but have supervision, management or organization skills; a strong desire to help others; and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, are encouraged to apply.

When disasters upend lives, Red Cross volunteers are on the frontlines providing refuge and comfort to people in their darkest hours. They truly are the heart and soul of the Red Cross — comprising 90% of our workforce — to help ensure families never face a crisis alone.

RED CROSS RESPONSE TO HURRICANES MILTON AND HELENE The Red Cross is on the ground, alongside partners, across five states to make sure no one faces the heartbreaking destruction from back-to-back hurricanes alone. Some 2,100 Red Crossers, including more than 70 from the Indiana Region continue to work tirelessly in the Carolinas, Florida, Georgia and Tennessee to provide shelter, food, water, relief supplies and comfort to those affected.

EXTREME WEATHER THREATS CONTINUE Hurricane season is far from over — and the threat of more storms looms now in the Gulf and Atlantic oceans. What’s more, the Southwest and California are forecast to have above-normal wildfire risk this fall. As the climate crisis worsens, disasters are becoming more intense and frequent — leading the Red Cross to respond on a nearly continuous basis.

Access/download b-roll here.

HOW TO HELP Beyond becoming a Red Cross volunteer, people can help in other ways too following Hurricanes Helene and Milton:

• DONATE FINANCIALLY: Financial donations are the quickest and fastest way to get help to people who need it. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster. Make a donation by visiting redcross.org.
• GIVE BLOOD: Hurricane Helene has caused more than 1,500 blood donations to go uncollected in the Southeast — yet the need for blood remains constant for patients in need. Those outside the affected areas are encouraged to schedule a blood donation appointment now by visiting RedCrossBlood.org or using the Blood Donor App to help restock the shelves.

About the American Red Cross Indiana Region:
The American Red Cross of Indiana Region serves 6.9 million people in 104 counties
in Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio through its five chapters: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, Southwest, and Greater Indianapolis (Regional Headquarters). 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 us at Redcross.org/Indiana or follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram @indianaredcross.