Disasters are a frequent occurrence in Louisiana -- hurricanes, tornadoes, floods and fires being the most common.  And when they occur, the American Red Cross relies on volunteers to offer help and hope to people who have lost everything. If you would like be one of those dedicated, trained volunteers, the Red Cross is looking for you! 

American Red Cross chapters across the entire state of Louisiana will be holding a statewide Day of Volunteer Training on Saturday, July 30th.  In the Shreveport area, the FREE training will be held from 9am-Noon at LSUS (One University Place) in the PE Majors Building.  Even though there is no charge, interested individuals are asked to register in advance for the training by e-mailing volunteers@louisianaredcross.org or calling (318) 865-9545 and asking for Jodie or Bobbie. 

Three different tracks will be offered: Shelter Operations, Health Services and Logistics Overview. Interested volunteers can choose one track on the 30th and sign up then for additional training at a later date. Some additional training is even available online.

Getting trained now means a faster, smoother response during times of disaster, when every minute counts.  On a daily basis, the ratio of volunteers to staff is about 85 to 1. During disasters, that ratio can jump as high as 99 to 1, especially for our local chapter. 

The American Red Cross chapters in Louisiana need you!  Volunteer today!  For more information, contact Volunteer Director Jodie Quinn at (318) 865-9545 or volunteers@louisianaredcross.org.

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