Prospective volunteers must be willing and able to serve in a disaster-affected area for 14 days.
ALBANY, NY (August 31, 2017) – The American Red Cross has launched a massive response to Hurricane Harvey, working around the clock to get help to where it is needed most. 24 Red Cross volunteers from the Eastern New York Region have been deployed to date to support relief efforts, and more volunteers will be needed in the days and weeks to come.
In order to prepare new volunteers from Eastern New York for deployment, the American Red Cross has begun offering one-day volunteer boot camp sessions around the region. Boot camps during the week of August 28 drew more than 150 total participants. Due to the high level of interest, the Red Cross will hold four (4) additional boot camp sessions in the next two weeks:
Tuesday, September 5
American Red Cross
33 Everett Road
Albany, NY 12205
Thursday, September 7
Poughkeepsie, NY
Training location TBA
Saturday, September 9
Utica, NY
Training location TBA
Wednesday, September 13
Saratoga Music Hall
474 Broadway, #6
Saratoga Springs, NY 12886
Each boot camp session will run from 9:00 A.M. to 6:00 P.M. and lunch will be provided. Training will include orientation and onboarding for new Red Cross volunteers, as well a comprehensive overview of Red Cross relief operations during large-scale disasters. The training will focus specifically on sheltering, and will prepare participants to assist people affected by disasters in a safe space where a variety of needs can be met.
Prospective volunteers must be willing and able to serve in a disaster-affected area for a minimum of 14 consecutive days within the next month. The Red Cross will cover all training and travel costs for individuals who are deployed.
In addition to volunteers, the Red Cross needs financial donations to be able to provide immediate disaster relief. Help people affected by Hurricane Harvey by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from this disaster.
