The American Red Cross has been serving communities in East Texas since 1917 and currently supports more than 1.7 million people throughout 11 counties including; Anderson, Cherokee, Gregg, Harrison, Henderson, Panola, Rusk, Smith, Upsur, Van Zandt and Wood counties.

The East Texas Chapter of the American Red Cross is led by Executive Director Tammy Prater. Tammy's first experience with the American Red Cross was at 13-years-old when she became a certified Junior Lifeguard. For more than 20 years, Tammy has served humanity in crisis, taught preparedness and built community resiliency as part of the American Red Cross.

Throughout the country, Red Cross volunteers play a critical role in the ability of the American Red Cross to continue the mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering. Volunteers comprise more than 90 percent of the American Red Cross workforce and more than 200 East Texas residents ensure the Red Cross mission is fulfilled in this region.

Volunteer opportunities exist both on the ground and virtually. Some of these opportunities include:

• Emergency Response volunteers respond to all types of disaster, including hurricane, tornadoes, floods, and especially home fires. When disasters strikes, our response teams provide assistance, shelter and other recovery services to impacted communities, day or night, 24/7/365.
• Emergency Preparedness volunteers install free home smoke alarm and develop emergency evacuation plans with residents in their homes. The Red Cross Training Services department offers instructions in first aid, adult/pediatric CPR, AED, water safety, babysitting and more.
• Service to the Armed Forces volunteers support active-duty and veteran military personnel and their families through emergency communications, emotional and financial support and a broad network of resources, benefits and services needed during and after their military career.

Sign-up to Volunteer! No matter your background or experience, there is a place for you at the American Red Cross. We invite everyone to learn more about how you can partner with the American Red Cross to make a difference in East Texas. For more information, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.

About the American Red Cross:

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 redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossNTX.