The American Red Cross has put out an urgent call for volunteers to respond to natural disasters. The Greater Kansas City chapter is hoping to train hundreds of people to help with relief efforts across the country. Natural disasters don’t stop during a global pandemic. “We have seen a drastic reduction in volunteers due to COVID,” said Randee Krumwiede, executive director of the Red Cross of Greater Kansas City and Northwest Missouri.She said volunteers are urgently needed as the wildfire and hurricane seasons begin.”Basically, we need to get these volunteers trained and ready to go,” she said.Krumwiede said volunteers will help with health care and sheltering. While doctors and nurses are needed, those without a medical background are just as critical. “When we have to go to congregate sheltering, that’s really where we need the support of our sheltering volunteers,” she said. “That could be helping with anything from registration to intake.”Volunteers could be deployed across the country or help right here at home. “We’re actually in the middle of responding to a disaster right now in St. Joseph, Missouri, the flooding that’s recently taken place there,” Krumwiede noted.During the pandemic, the Red Cross said it is taking extra steps to keep everyone safe. “We’re taking all precautions, including hand washing, extra sanitation, temperature checks for both employees as well as those coming into the shelters,” Krumwiede said.For many volunteers, answering the call can be life-changing. “We have volunteers with boots on the ground who have volunteered on a one-time experience and come back in a full-time capacity nearly, because of the rewards that are associated with it,” Krumwiede said.There are two virtual volunteer fairs coming up: Tuesday at noon and Aug. 18, at 4 p.m. Click here to register. Click here for more information about volunteering for the Red Cross.
The American Red Cross has put out an urgent call for volunteers to respond to natural disasters.
The Greater Kansas City chapter is hoping to train hundreds of people to help with relief efforts across the country.
Natural disasters don’t stop during a global pandemic.
“We have seen a drastic reduction in volunteers due to COVID,” said Randee Krumwiede, executive director of the Red Cross of Greater Kansas City and Northwest Missouri.
She said volunteers are urgently needed as the wildfire and hurricane seasons begin.
“Basically, we need to get these volunteers trained and ready to go,” she said.
Krumwiede said volunteers will help with health care and sheltering. While doctors and nurses are needed, those without a medical background are just as critical.
“When we have to go to congregate sheltering, that’s really where we need the support of our sheltering volunteers,” she said. “That could be helping with anything from registration to intake.”
Volunteers could be deployed across the country or help right here at home.
“We’re actually in the middle of responding to a disaster right now in St. Joseph, Missouri, the flooding that’s recently taken place there,” Krumwiede noted.
During the pandemic, the Red Cross said it is taking extra steps to keep everyone safe.
“We’re taking all precautions, including hand washing, extra sanitation, temperature checks for both employees as well as those coming into the shelters,” Krumwiede said.
For many volunteers, answering the call can be life-changing.
“We have volunteers with boots on the ground who have volunteered on a one-time experience and come back in a full-time capacity nearly, because of the rewards that are associated with it,” Krumwiede said.
There are two virtual volunteer fairs coming up: Tuesday at noon and Aug. 18, at 4 p.m. Click here to register. Click here for more information about volunteering for the Red Cross.
