American Red Cross looking for volunteers

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – The American Red Cross of Missouri is recruiting new volunteers to help respond to local emergencies.  

Executive director American Red Cross of southern Missouri and northwest Arkansas Amanda Smith says that since covid there has been more virtual response volunteers. 

“So, we kind of went more virtual which allowed more people to kind of serve the larger area and now we are back to doing in person responses,” said Smith. 

American Red Cross is looking to fill the need of more volunteers for their Disaster Action Team (DAT).  

According to the American Red Cross, southern Missouri volunteers responded to 149 home fires and assisted 534 individuals while installing 111 alarms in 49 homes. 

“In all of the communities we serve we need disaster action team volunteers we call them bat responders to actually go out and you know serve those families that have been impacted by a home fire,” said Smith. 

American red cross is an organization that relies of volunteers to make a difference and always looking for those wanting to help.  

“[We are] mainly a volunteer-run organization we’re about 90% volunteer lead so we always need volunteers more and more help,” said Smith. 

Volunteers are needed all throughout Missouri but especially needed in Cape Girardeau, Carter, Ripley and Scott.