Red Cross of CNY offers volunteer training for Sandy relief effort Saturday

The American Red Cross of CNY will hold a training session to prepare volunteers to assist with Sandy relief efforts on Saturday. www.syrarc.org

As of Friday, November 2, 2012 -1:09 p.m.

SYRACUSE — Thousands of American Red Cross disaster workers are providing aid and comfort to people affected by Superstorm Sandy. Shelters are open across multiple states and feeding operations are ramping up as communities become accessible.

The need for shelter volunteers in the affected areas is still overwhelming. To help meet that need, the American Red Cross Central New York Chapter will hold special volunteer training for residents who want to assist in serving the people who have been displaced from their homes.

The class will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 3, at the Red Cross Central New York Chapter, 220 Herald Place, Syracuse. Volunteers who want to help with the Sandy relief efforts should understand the following:

· They need to be able to leave immediately after Saturday training.

· They need to commit to a two-week minimum stay.

· They need to be prepared for hardship conditions.

· They need to clear a basic background check.

Anyone interested in joining the front lines of this national disaster response can reserve space by following these directions:

Head to www.mybackgroundcheck.com.
Click on American Red Cross Volunteer.
Click on Disaster Response.
Click on Hurricane Sandy 145.
Complete process and submit.
Call Chapter at 234-2200 to reserve your space in the class.
Go to www.redcrosscny.org to fill out the volunteer application, and follow directions for a background check.

For more information, call the Central New York Chapter at 315-234-2200.

Thousands of American Red Cross disaster workers are providing aid and comfort to people affected by Superstorm Sandy. Shelters are open across multiple states and feeding operations are ramping up as communities become accessible.

“We know this is a very difficult and frustrating time for people who have lost their homes, are displaced or don’t have power,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Disaster Services for the Red Cross. “The Red Cross is doing everything possible to get help quickly to those affected. We are providing aid and comfort to people right now, and our focus today is on ramping up a massive feeding operation to get hot meals to people in places such as Long Island, Manhattan, Staten Island and New Jersey.”

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