Red Cross Keeps Up Relief Effort

The American Red Cross is continuing to provide meals, shelter and comfort to families across New York and New Jersey and is gearing up for a major supply distribution project this weekend. Mobilizing a large cadre of volunteers, the Red Cross will be handing out thousands of bags filled with relief supplies like cleaning, hygiene and comfort items in all five New York boroughs and New Jersey. 

In addition to providing shelter to the thousands who have been affected by Superstorm Sandy, the Red Cross has also been working in partnership with other relief organizations, such as the Southern Baptist Convention, to carry our a massive feeding operation spread across New York and New Jersey.

The Red Cross has mobilized the full resources of the organization to help people affected by Sandy. More than 5,800 Red Cross workers from all 50 states are supporting shelters, providing food and water at fixed sites, and driving through neighborhoods to distribute meals and supplies. About 90 percent of these workers are volunteers. To date over 3.5 million meals and snacks have been served.

“Volunteers who have been specifically trained to respond following a disaster are always needed by the Red Cross, not only to help with large scale events like Superstorm Sandy, but also, to respond to local events that happen everyday across the Western Carolinas”, said Tony Reid, Regional Director of Emergency Services.  “People want to help and we usually see increased public interest in becoming a Red Cross volunteer following events like Superstorm Sandy”, Reid also added.

Responding to that increased interest, the Red Cross in the Western Carolinas has hosted six special training classes since Sandy hit. 

A total of 61 volunteers have been deployed from the Western Carolinas region since October 26. Seventeen of those volunteers have been deployed since November 5, with 8 being brand new volunteers trained in the last week.  Most of these volunteers have been working in NY and NJ providing shelter and distributing supplies in affected areas.