Only 10% of people working with the Red Cross are paid staff. The other 90% are volunteers, and they’re looking for more volunteers to help when disaster strikes.

They assist with many types of disasters.

“In New York State we respond to approximately 10 home fires a day and that’s across the state where we’re having different individuals in the community go out and make a difference. We’re also supporting just about every disaster you can think of from hurricanes, tornadoes, home fires, floods, ice jams, earthquakes, you name it the Red Cross is there to support,” said Colby Foster, disaster program manager with the American Red Cross.

There are many types of supplies they bring with them into the community to assist people in need in one of their Red Cross vans. Those supplies include blankets, comfort kits filled with necessities like shampoo and conditioner.

“Individuals who have just lost everything, they need something to help make them feel comfortable and make those first 24 to 48 hours, something where they feel a little bit more human a little bit more safe and taken care of and that’s our mission at Red Cross just to alleviate that human suffering that they’re enduring,” Foster said.

They even bring stuffed pandas along with them for the kids.

“Everyone’s impacted and we want to make everyone feel comfortable. And just rest assured that they feel a sense of care and compassion coming from the Red Cross,” Foster said.

To make these responses after disasters possible, Red Cross is looking for more people to lend a hand.

“We 100% are constantly looking for volunteers, especially in the North Country,” said Foster. “Those communities are often so rural and really it’s those individuals that live in the community that make the biggest impact and can help service those impacted from disaster.”

The need for help is always present, including the need for blood donors. Red Cross is looking for people to donate at blood drives, and there are different donations that can be made like whole blood, or power red. There are constant opportunities to be a donor.

“Blood drives happen on a daily basis Monday through Sunday. Donor centers are open every day and our mobiles in the field in your community really are happening pretty much every day. So in central New York, we have nine counties that we serve out of this location. And all of those locations have blood drives every day,” said Kris Alexich, supervisor for Biomed Volunteer Programs with Red Cross.

“90% of our workforce is volunteer based. So the more volunteers we can have to do the work the easier it becomes for all, more hands lighter work, less load on any one individual. So we do see in blood in particular certain areas where we have an increased need. Maybe we have more snowbirds or college students and therefore it increases the need that we have overall,” Alexich said.

Head to the Red Cross’ website to learn more about how to volunteer.

If you want to bring help and comfort to people in crisis, especially in rural North Country communities, you can email joineny@redcross.org.