Red Cross and Americorps team up to help at disasters

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The Red Cross in it’s partnership with Americorps has produced a nation-wide initiative called the Red Cross Corps, allowing volunteers to commit to a year of service to support disaster preparedness and response programs. Americorps is a national service organization created to increase volunteerism nationwide, in the same way the Peace Corps works on a global level.

Red Cross Corps volunteers commit to a full time, 11-month term, are provided a monthly living stipend, and receive an education award upon successful completion of the term

The Chief Executive Office of the Red Cross on Long Island, Neela Mukherjee Lockel, said the Red Cross has a history of working with Americorps in the past.

Under this plan the volunteers will be working on the ground, at fires, plane crash and disasters. There will be an Americorps person helping to run disaster management with volunteers on site.

“This is a great opportunity for a large number of Americans to learn how to provide disaster services,” Lockel said.

The Red Cross Corps Member will: provide preparedness programs to adults and children to increase preparedness in the face of an emergency; develop relationships with community groups and organizations; provide logistical support for volunteers setting up preparedness presentations; and complete the necessary training to assist the Disaster Cycle Services Department during large-scale disasters if needed.

Volunteers must be 18 yeas old.

All interested individuals are strongly encouraged to apply, including those not currently serving with the Red Cross.  Interviews are underway and positions will be filled as soon as possible.  The official start date for 2016-2017 is September 12, 2016. Apply on the AmeriCorps website:

http://bit.ly/2b7aM4q