Tennessee Region Hosts Events and Trainings to Recruit Volunteers

September 2, 2023. Valdosta, Georgia.
The Summerlin s evacuated to the home of another family member as part of a plan to safely ride out Hurricane Idalia. That s where they found themselves huddled beneath a mattress as the hurricane force winds shook the home for what felt like an endless amount of time. As Idalia finally passed and they walked outside seeing trees strewn about the yard, they couldn t believe they had survived the experience.

Then Lindsay Summerlin returned to her own home of a dozen years and found several large trees had crashed through it. The Valdosta, Georgia, resident had never experienced a hurricane before. That s why it is so devastating. I ve seen it on TV, but I ve never been in it myself. It misses us every time. We have been so lucky, until now. Due to the climate crisis, hurricanes are becoming more intense and destructive.

The family is temporarily living in a travel trailer in their backyard as they wait to begin the massive clean-up efforts. I keep thinking about what am I going to with all of this stuff, and I think I m going to have to let a lot of these things go.

Red Cross disaster workers provided comfort kits with toiletries, snacks and water to help the family to stay comfortable. While she suffered a great loss, she is thankful for the resources and support of the Red Cross volunteers who have helped her along the way.

The Summerlin s have spent Labor Day weekend with their extended family removing debris, gathering supplies and securing tarps to prevent more rainwater from causing further damage. As they walked along the home, it began to rain again.
Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

September 18, 2023

Call to Action! Volunteers needed to support disaster response

Sept. 18, 2023 — Volunteers in the Tennessee Region American Red Cross responded to many historic disasters both locally and throughout the nation in the last twelve months. These dedicated volunteers have served communities dealing with floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires in back-to-back disasters.

Severe weather is part of a worsening national trend in which the American Red Cross has responded to nearly twice as many large disasters across the country as it did a decade ago.

As rapidly intensifying, weather-related events pose serious challenges to its humanitarian work and the people it serves, the Red Cross has announced an ambitious national plan to take urgent action. With more climate-driven disasters upending lives and devastating communities, the organization is racing to adapt its services and grow its disaster response capacity across the country.

In the Tennessee Region, this includes training volunteers on how to respond to disasters locally and across the country.

The Tennessee Region American Red Cross responds to these disasters and many home fires weekly, sometimes daily. Volunteers make up about 90 percent of the American Red Cross workforce, helping to make it possible to provide immediate support to our neighbors in time of need.

The Red Cross is asking for help. Disaster Volunteers receive training to respond to the scene of home fires and other disasters. Volunteers provide emotional support, safe shelter, vital supplies, emergency assistance, and information to help families begin recovery. The Tennessee Region is conducting a local volunteer recruitment and training for those looking to make a lasting impact for others.

Upcoming informational and training sessions:

Tuesday, Sept. 19, 2023
Disaster Services Overview and Shelter Training
10 a.m. - 1 p.m.
Tennessee River Red Cross, 1760 Madison St., Clarksville, TN

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN

Wednesday, Sept. 20, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
East Tennessee Red Cross, 6921 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN

Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
1 p.m. - 2 p.m.
Heart of Tennessee Red Cross, 501 Memorial Blvd., Murfreesboro, TN

Friday, Sept. 22, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
9 a.m. - 10 a.m.
Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN

Friday, Sept. 22, 2023
Shelter Fundamentals Training and Feeding Activity Introduction
10 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Nashville Area Red Cross, 2201 Charlotte Ave., Nashville, TN

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023
Supervising the Disaster Workforce Training
9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Tennessee River Red Cross, 1760 Madison St., Clarksville, TN

Tuesday, Sept. 26, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Southeast Tennessee Red Cross, 4115 S. Access Road, Chattanooga

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
10 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
Mid-West Tennessee Red Cross, 19 Stonecreek Circle, Jackson, TN

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
1 p.m. - 2:30 p.m.
Mid-South Red Cross, 1399 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN

Wednesday, Sept. 27, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
6 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
East Tennessee Red Cross, 6921 Middlebrook Pike, Knoxville, TN

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
4 p.m. - 5 p.m.
Southeast Tennessee Red Cross, 4115 S. Access Road, Chattanooga

Thursday, Sept. 28, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
5:30 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Mid-South Red Cross, 1399 Madison Ave, Memphis, TN

Tuesday, Oct. 3, 2023
Volunteer Interest Meeting
10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.
Moore County Senior Citizen Center, 87 High St., Lynchburg, TN

If you have questions about the need for volunteers or how the American Red Cross responds in your community:

For Chattanooga and the Southeast Tennessee chapter, contact Idaline Diaz, Disaster
Program Manager, at Idaline.Diaz@redcross.org.

For Clarksville and the Tennessee River chapter, contact Dolly Mast, Disaster Program Manager, at 931-444-9839 or Dolly.Mast@redcross.org.

For Jackson and the Mid-West Tennessee chapter, contact Brandy Rhodes, Disaster Program Manager, at Brandy.Rhodes@redcross.org.

For Knoxville and the East Tennessee chapter, contact James Pesterfield, Disaster Program Specialist, at James.Pesterfield@redcross.org.

For Memphis and the Mid-South chapter, contact Mathew St. Martin, Disaster Program Manager at Mathew.StMartin2@redcross.org.

For Murfreesboro and the Heart of Tennessee chapter, contact Jon Taylor, Disaster Program Manager, at Jonathan.Taylor@redcross.org.

For Nashville and the Nashville Area chapter, contact Henry Pipes, Disaster Program Manager, at Henry.Pipes@redcross.org.

You can also visit redcross.org/VolunteerTN to sign up to volunteer.

American Red Cross Tennessee Region

Tennessee Region Hosts Events and Trainings to Recruit Volunteers

Tennessee Region Hosts Events and Trainings to Recruit Volunteers