YAKIMA, APRIL 4, 2024 —When the Buckingham Apartments caught fire on Monday, March 4 in Yakima, the local chapter of the American Red Cross mobilized immediately to provide help and hope to evacuated residents. Throughout that response, we provided almost 80 overnight shelter stays and over 500 meals and snacks, while 38 individuals received immediate assistance to support their recovery. 

These are services made possible by members of the Yakima community like Paul Reiss, a local retiree looking for a way to give back to his community with his free time. Reiss was recruited last summer at a local farmer’s market and became a Red Cross Disaster Response volunteer. The Buckingham Apartments fire was his first opportunity to work in a shelter.  

“I was surprised how much I enjoyed interacting with clients," Reiss said. “These were people who needed our support. You can’t take away the pain, but I wanted to do what I could to make things easier for them.” 

Reiss was moved by the resilience of the group, and how much they supported each other and worked together to plan for the future.  

Every day in Yakima County, people are forced from their homes due to disasters. The Red Cross needs more people in this community to join the Red Cross and help local families cope with these emergencies. Reiss recognizes that need and is now encouraging others to volunteer.  

“There are so many different things you can do in the Red Cross, and it makes you feel good. Just get into the system and find where you can plug in,” Reiss said. The best way to start is by visiting RedCross.org/volunteer.  

MOST NEEDED POSITION

Compassionate and committed Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers respond day and night to meet the immediate needs of their neighbors. Most often, they are called to respond to single and multi-family fires that threaten lives, destroy property and displace entire families. While the work can be emotional and challenging, it is also deeply rewarding. Our volunteers provide support and assistance to someone in one of their darkest moments.  

DAT volunteers provide assistance including emotional support, replacement of prescription medication, financial assistance for food, clothing and temporary lodging, and other critically needed items or referrals. 

As a Disaster Action Team member, volunteers can grow into leadership roles, learn more about emergency management, interface with fire department and other emergency officials as well as other community partners. 

All required training is provided by the Red Cross free of charge, and all new members are paired with an experienced volunteer to provide guidance.  

Help your community by responding to disasters with the Red Cross. Visit RedCross.org/Volunteer or this direct link to learn more about the opportunity today! 

The Red Cross is committed to diversity and inclusion. It strives to create and maintain a diverse workforce which helps to ensure our cultural competence when serving all communities. 

About the American Red Cross: 

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.