The American Red Cross Northern New England Region

Red Cross Northern New England Region Welcomes New Chief Executive Officer

“Even remotely, I feel connected"

Volunteers deploy virtually to provide diaster relief from home

By Stefanie Millette

Zoom in on any current Disaster Response Operation, and it’s obvious that 2020 is far from typical. In 2019, a community member might have seen American Red Cross disaster responders at a large-scale event on the news and imagined that all involved were far away. But now, especially with COVID-19, the setting for responders could be as close as your own backyard. 

Virtual volunteers serve a variety of roles in the Red Cross and can be based anywhere with internet access. Right now, in homes across the Northern New England Region, responders are supporting relief efforts from their home office, kitchen, or maybe even the couch. We showed up on the virtual stoop of three such volunteers last week to learn about their experiences, most recently supporting those impacted by Hurricane Laura in Louisiana and Texas.

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