Last month, the American Red Cross hosted a disaster preparedness workshop with our Community Adaptation Program (CAP) partners in Atlantic County, New Jersey. This interactive session was designed to simulate disaster scenarios, providing an opportunity for local partners and Red Cross personnel to assess readiness, enhance coordination, and develop effective response strategies.
More than thirty individuals participated in the hands-on, discussion-based training, which was led by experienced Red Crossers specializing in disaster planning and response. This workshop was organized as part of the Community Adaptation Program, established in Atlantic County in 2023. The CAP in Atlantic County is one of 19 in disaster-prone counties across the country, developed by the Red Cross to strengthen local partnerships and improve access to health services, mental health support, nutritious food, and safe housing for underserved families. In return, CAP partners commit to collaborating with the Red Cross during disasters to support recovery efforts and reduce the risk of disaster-induced poverty.
The need for such a program is vital. Over the past decade, the frequency of billion-dollar disasters in the United States has doubled. The Red Cross created the Community Adaptation Program to ensure that critical services remain accessible even during increasingly severe climate events. Atlantic County is vulnerable to flooding, wildfires, nor’easters, and hurricanes. Urban areas such as Atlantic City face additional challenges, including limited access to grocery stores and healthy food, classifying the area as a "food desert."
The climate crisis disproportionately affects low-income families, older adults, communities of color, and individuals with disabilities. These groups often experience longer displacements and greater hardships in the aftermath of disasters. By investing in the resilience of local organizations, the Red Cross seeks to ensure that critical services are available when they are needed most, facilitating faster recoveries and reducing long-term hardships.
Under the leadership of Community Disaster Risk Reduction Manager Kristie Collins, the Atlantic County CAP program has expanded to include more than 50 partner organizations addressing housing, hunger, and health needs. These organizations, deeply rooted in the community, are critical to ensuring that support services are available to those most at risk.
“Our approach is different,” says Collins. “Rather than simply providing funding, we forge collaborative relationships with our partners, working with them to design resources that can enhance their steady-state capacity, capabilities, and ability to maintain community services during and after disasters.”
The Red Cross employs several strategies to strengthen partner organizations, including:
This comprehensive approach ensures that partners are not only better prepared for disasters but also more sustainable in their daily operations. For example, increasing a partner’s ability to deliver food in at-risk locations goes beyond providing a distribution vehicle. We also want to make sure that the partner has the capability to recruit volunteers to drive the vehicle and develop a budget and fundraising plan to cover increased fuel, maintenance and insurance costs over time.
The idea is simple yet powerful: if local nonprofits are better equipped before disaster strikes, then the entire community recovers faster and suffers less.
Beacon of Hope
Take Beacon of Hope, for example. This 31-bed shelter in Atlantic City, founded just three years ago as part of Asbury United Methodist Church, was one of the CAP partners who participated in the recent disaster workshop. For Director Vinnie Kirkland, the workshop was a real eye-opener. “It made us think about where we would go if we had to evacuate our shelter and how we need to prepare,” he said.
As a CAP partner, Beacon of Hope received three freezers, pantry racks, and a generator for their shelter. Kirkland admitted he was skeptical at first about the need for a generator until a power outage hit just weeks later. Thanks to the generator, the shelter and pantry were able to continue operating without disruption.
“We appreciate how the Red Cross came to us with arms wide open to help,” said Kirkland. “They enhance what we were doing. The things they brought have helped us and helped the people we serve.”
Career Opportunity Development, Inc. (CODI)
“Thoughtfully planned and well-executed”, is how the CAP partner Career Opportunity Development, Inc. (CODI) described the disaster workshop. CODI is nonprofit organization that provides employment and housing opportunities for differently-abled individuals throughout Atlantic County.
“Engaging with the American Red Cross and other participating organizations allowed us to identify gaps, refine our preparedness plans, and explore ways to align resources and support during emergencies.” said Lori Jo Sarfert, CODI Vice President of Risk Management about the workshop. “These connections and learnings have better equipped us to respond effectively in future crises, ensuring the ongoing safety and well-being of the individuals we serve.”
CODI joined the CAP in July 2024. Through the program, they received two refrigerators, freezers, and funding for a part-time food service worker. These resources, provided by the Red Cross, have allowed CODI to prepare and distribute healthy frozen meals to the individuals they serve who live independently, greatly improving their ability to meet these individuals’ nutritional needs and overall well-being.
“Our consumers have expressed tremendous enthusiasm and gratitude for the addition of the frozen meals—this program has truly made a meaningful difference in their daily lives,” explained Linda Carney, CODI President and CEO. “Beyond the grant itself, our partnership with the American Red Cross has proven to be deeply impactful. They have demonstrated a genuine commitment to supporting community organizations, not only through direct assistance, but also by identifying and sharing additional grant opportunities that align with our mission.”
St. James Bible Deliverance
Another CAP partner, St. James Bible Deliverance in Egg Harbor City, has been a lifeline in their community since 1996. St. James provides food to individuals in Egg Harbor City and Millville. They also open “Jesus Closet” to the community when their food bank is open, offering clean, gently used clothing to neighbors in need, and they distribute more than 1,300 diapers each month to families who can’t afford them.
Peaches Bedford, Administrator at St. James, said her team was thrilled to be part of the CAP disaster workshop. “It gave us the opportunity to meet with other organizations that we can team up with in our area that we weren’t aware of before, so we can work together.”
Through CAP, St. James received a grant for a new freezer and refrigerator, which are crucial upgrades that help them better serve their neighbors.
Peaches has a deeply personal connection to the Red Cross. Her daughter lost everything during Superstorm Sandy, and it was the Red Cross that stepped in with food and shelter. “I know how the Red Cross helps, because they helped my family,” she said. “That’s why we wanted to be part of CAP, to be able to give back and help others.”
The Community Adaptation Program represents a strategic and proactive investment in Atlantic County’s future. By partnering with trusted local organizations and enhancing their capacity, capability, and continuity, the Red Cross is helping ensure that vulnerable families are better supported both in everyday life and in times of crisis.
By Volunteer Julia Zauner
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