It has been a busy few weeks around the state as wildfires have taken full advantage of the dry conditions, moving swiftly and placing communities in danger. In the Capital Region, the Rim Fire in Tuolumne County and the Clover Fire in Shasta/Tehama Counties have threatened homes and led to the opening of Red Cross evacuation shelters.
Trained volunteers from around the Region and other parts of the state have come to the towns of Sonora (Rim) and Igo (Clover) to assist in shelter operations and ensure that residents of the impacted communities are safe and have what they need while they are away from their homes.
While each shelter has been fully staffed, surrounding communities see disaster impacting their neighbors and are driven to get involved. As friends and neighbors come to Red Cross shelters looking to assist, we will often make efforts to find opportunities for them. However, without proper training in the different facets of shelter operations there is only so much they are able to do.
Herein lies the opportunity! We rely on the power of volunteers for the important work we do in the community all year round. We encourage community members to get involved and get trained so that when disaster happens, you can be there to fill that critical role in helping your neighbors!
In the Redding and surrounding areas (near the Clover Fire), there is a great opportunity coming up for those interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer. Join us at our Redding office on Saturday, September 21 for one of three volunteer orientations – at either 1pm, 4pm, and 7pm. Learn about different opportunities within the Red Cross, types of volunteer positions, and what is involved. Contact 530-244-8000 for more info and to RSVP.
Got a smartphone? Check out great info about being a Red Cross volunteer on the new Team Red Cross app! Learn about being a volunteer, watch helpful videos, and even sign up right from the app!
There’s never been a better time to get involved than right now, and you would make a great addition to the team! We never hope for a disaster, but it’s a great comfort in knowing there’s a strong team of dedicated volunteers ready to respond when there is a need.
Gold Country News and Notes 