Newark, Ohio — The American Red Cross of East and South Central Ohio is recruiting volunteers to join its workforce to help families affected by an increase in disasters caused by home fires and severe storms across the country.

In the past several days, the Ohio Buckeye Region of the Red Cross has sent 19 volunteers to respond to the devastating flooding in West Virginia. In addition, the Red Cross still has workers on the ground responding to the Texas floods, as well as the Canadian and California wildfires. Locally, volunteers are responding to daily emergencies close to home, including home fires and flooding. The Red Cross is training new volunteers to help with this upsurge of disaster relief efforts across the Ohio Buckeye Region and across the country.

A recruitment open house for new volunteers is scheduled Thursday, July 7 at 4:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. at the American Red Cross in Newark, located at 143 S. 30th Street, in Newark, Ohio 43055.

An additional open house is scheduled for Saturday, July 9 at 1 p.m. and 6 p.m. at the American Red Cross in Chillicothe, located at 181 North Bridge Street, Chillicothe, Ohio 45601.

“This year, more families throughout the country have found themselves standing outside their destroyed home and left wondering what to do next,” said Ken Robinson, regional disaster officer, Ohio Buckeye Region. “That’s when the Red Cross steps in. We’re looking for strong volunteers who can make a difference for their neighbors and provide help and comfort on one of the worst days of their life.”

Across the 45-county region the Red Cross serves in the Ohio Buckeye Region, volunteers respond to home fires nearly every day, providing food, shelter and comfort to more than 1,200 families affected each year in our communities.

This article was submitted by the American Red Cross.