American Red Cross Celebrates National Volunteer Week in New Haven

From the American Red Cross:

NEW HAVEN, Conn. (April 5, 2016) – The American Red Cross is celebrating National Volunteer Week this April and we are looking for more volunteers to join our ranks. The Red Cross will host a new volunteer orientation at the American Red Cross New Haven office, 703 Whitney Ave, New Haven on Monday, April 18 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. April 10-16, 2016 is National Volunteer Week and each year the Red Cross uses this opportunity to show appreciation for all the work done by volunteers within the organization.

“Our volunteers are the cornerstone of everything we do to fulfill the mission of the Red Cross,” said Mario Bruno, CEO, American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. “Our volunteers are the ones who take the call in the middle of the night to help a neighbor in need. They are staffing our shelters, installing smoke alarms, providing safety and preparedness information to our communities. We are beyond grateful for the support they give to the Red Cross each and every day.”

The Red Cross responds to a community disaster every eight minutes, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families at home and around the world. It must collect 14,000 units of blood everyday to fulfill the country’s needs. It trains millions of people in first aid, water safety and other lifesaving skills. And it supports the vaccination of children around the globe against measles and rubella. All of this vital work is made possible by people volunteering.

The hour-long orientation session is designed to introduce new volunteers to the history of the Red Cross and to learn about all of the local volunteer opportunities available. Those interested in attending the session must register in advance online at www.redcross.org/ct/volunteer. For more information please call 860-678-2788.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/ct or visit us on Twitter at @CTRedCross.