July 7, 2022. Tinton Falls, New Jersey. Stock Photography project to illustrate Disaster Action Teams (DAT). Photo Illustration by Jason Colston/American Red Cross Please note: these are staged photos and shouldn't be conveyed as real.

The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is looking for volunteers who want to make a difference and support their communities, especially as natural disasters strike at an increasing frequency across the nation.

“We’re seeing both the frequency and intensity of disasters increase due to the climate crisis,” said Jorge Martinez, president and CEO, American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania, in a recent press release. “Across the country, the Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters as we did a decade ago to help people. This uptick in responses means we need more volunteers. The need to help has never been greater.”

HOW TO HELP

Locally, more than 3,300 people volunteer with the Red Cross. In the last year, they responded to more than 1,500 disasters.

“Our local volunteers are part of the almost 275,000 volunteers across the country whose support enables the Red Cross to provide relief and comfort for disaster victims, lifesaving blood products for patients, emergency support for military families and veterans, and much more,” the press release said.

DISASTER VOLUNTEERS

Some of the Red Cross’s most needed disaster-related volunteer roles include:

• Disaster Action Team: Most of the 60,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are smaller disasters like home fires, but these are no less devastating to the families affected. As a Disaster Action Team volunteer, help comfort and support people by meeting any immediate needs such as food, shelter, clothing or supplies and connecting them to long-term recovery services.

“We supply all the training you need,” the release said.

• Disaster Recovery Care: Casework volunteers provide support to people after disasters to help them get back on their feet. This can include providing referrals to other organizations, serving as an advocate and issuing financial assistance through a special online system. Volunteers are needed to help both virtually and onsite after disasters.

• Disaster Mental Health: These volunteers provide mental health support to people impacted by a disaster. To be qualified, applicants must hold a master’s degree and a current, unencumbered license as a social worker, psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, psychiatrist, school psychologist or school counselor. Current psychiatric nurses with state license as a registered nurse and at least two years’ experience in a psychiatric setting are also qualified, as are retired mental health professionals who were licensed and maintained a license or certification in good standing upon retirement, according to the press release.

BIOMEDICAL SERVICES

“The Red Cross helps to supply about 40% of the nation’s blood, and we depend onvolunteers to help ensure patients have access to this lifesaving gift,” the release said.

• Blood Donor Ambassador: Volunteer Blood Donor Ambassadors ensure that blood donors have a pleasant and fulfilling experience, from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. They greet donors, answer questions and thank them for their donation.

• Blood Transportation Specialist: Volunteer Transportation Specialists deliver lifesaving blood products from Red Cross distribution facilities to hospitals, using a Red Cross-owned vehicle. Typical shifts are about four hours. The organization asks for a commitment of at least two to four shifts per month.

“Our volunteers are at the heart of our mission and represent 90% of the Red Cross workforce. Your time and talent can make a real difference in people’s lives,” officials said.

BLOOD DONATIONS

The Red Cross is experiencing an emergency blood shortage as the nation faces the lowest number of people giving blood in 20 years, according to a statement on the organization’s website.

“Your blood donation is needed now to help alleviate the shortage and ensure lifesaving medical procedures are not delayed,” the site said.

Depending on the type of donation in question, the process takes about an hour from start to finish, but less than 10 minutes of that is spent on the actual donation, according to the website. The rest of a donor’s time will be spent registering, giving identification and health history, and then recovering with refreshments afterward.

The following blood drives are being held in the Williamsport region over the next few weeks:

• 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17, Pennsylvania College of Technology Bush Campus Center, 1 College Ave.

• Noon to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 19, Northway Community Church, 1680 Four Mile Drive

• 1 to 6 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, Acacia Club, 348 Market St.

• 12:30 to 5 p.m. Friday, Jan. 26, Church of the Resurrection, 75 Musser Lane, Muncy

Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to sign up for opportunities with the American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. Volunteers can help locally or sign up to support disaster victims in other parts of the country, according to the press release.

Visit redcrossblood.org/give.html/find-drive to find a nearby blood drive.