I have recently become a certified Red Cross volunteer as Disaster Action Team in Central Florida. When one thinks about the Red Cross, usually mass disasters, such as hurricanes or earthquakes come to mind; however the Red Cross does FAR more than that for the community. The Red Cross responds to local disasters on a daily basis, such as house fires, which occur many times a day in Greater Central Florida. Teams respond with compassion, care, and assistance for those impacted by a disaster. Working with multiple agencies, the Red Cross makes sure that victims of disaster are set up with immediate care for temporary housing, food, counseling and so much more. This local chapter in Orlando has an amazing team in place, balancing logistics, client care, volunteers and also offers a plethora of courses to the community in a variety of fields, such as certification for CPR/First Aid and more. The road to becoming a certified volunteer is rigorous and there are many courses to complete, but so very worth the time invested. This local chapter is so well managed and truly worthy of a 5 star rating. If you find yourself in need of assistance, please reach out to the Red Cross. If you are looking for a great place to volunteer, the Red Cross will help you find a good 'fit' for what you are looking to do. Hands on disaster response was my choice, but there are a great many areas that are needed to support the operation in administration areas, hospitality areas and more. Please contact the Red Cross now if you wish to become a volunteer and you will be trained and ready when the need arises for activation of volunteers. read more