Red Cross Responds to Hurricane Helene Disaster

The American Red Cross of Wisconsin is issuing an urgent appeal for volunteers who are willing to travel this fall to support emergency shelters for major national disaster relief efforts.

Interested volunteers are urged to sign up today at redcross.org/volunteer. All candidates must complete the necessary training and be able to commit to a two-week deployment. Applicants who don’t have disaster experience, but have supervision, management or organization skills; a strong desire to help others; and the ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, are encouraged to apply. As of Monday, more than 900 Red Cross disasters responders are on the ground across 10 states devastated by Hurricane Helene in the Southeast, including hard-hit North Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Florida.

Beyond becoming a Red Cross volunteer, people can help in other ways too following Helene. Financial donations are the quickest and fastest way to get help to people who need it. Red Cross Executive Director Rebecca Rockhill.

Blood Donations will also help. Hurricane Helene has caused more than 1,500 blood donations to go uncollected in the Southeast, yet the need for blood remains constant for patients in need. Blood drives are being held today (Thursday) until 2:30 at Royall High School; until 5:00 at Don Larson Chevrolet, Buick, GMC in Baraboo; and from 1:00 to 6:00 at American Legion Post 245 in Cross Plains. A blood drive will be held tomorrow (Friday) from 12:30 to 5:30 at the Arena Fire & EMS Station. Two opportunities to give will be held next week. The first is Monday (Oct 7) from 1:00 to 6:00 at the American Legion Clubhouse in Plain. The second is Wednesday (Oct. 9) from 9:00 to 2:00 at Wisconsin Heights High School. Appointments are encouraged by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS, or go online to redcrossblood.org.

Donate to the Red Cross and other organizations by visiting Civic Media’s Hurricane Helene help page at CivicMedia.US/help.

Donations for flood victims in North Carolina and Tennessee following Hurricane Helene are being accepted locally in Richland Center at Driftless Outdoors on Highway 80 North. Basic needs are bottled water and canned food, along with can openers if donating canned food. Organizers are planning to leave with a semi load of donations tomorrow (Friday). Please have your donations dropped off by this (Thursday) evening at 5:00. For more information call 608-475-1219.