How you can help the Red Cross without rolling up your sleeves

Baltimore County - Providing basic needs such as emergency shelter, food and clothing to families after disasters is the mission of the Red Cross.

Whenever it is most inconvenient, holidays, in the middle of the night, weekends, when the other services are not available, the Red Cross is there 24/7.

The need is now for more volunteers. On average three times a day an emergency occurs, impacting the lives of your neighbor, friend or even family members. If they don't get more volunteers what happens?

That means current employees are out longer than is probably healthy.

Volunteers are needed to assist with big disasters like our recent storms, but it’s the daily emergencies like house fires where the need is urgent.

These responses happening one after the other, it’s good to have a pool of people, especially if we get involved with a large response like the Randallstown fire was.

Just this past weekend fire ripped through an apartment complex in Randallstown. Twnety-four apartments burned up, displacing over 50 people. The Red Cross was there making sure everyone had safe roof over their heads for night.

The most vulnerable population was the children with the families to make sure there immediate needs were met.

Losing everything can take an emotional toll as well; knowing someone cares can make all the difference

Just to see that someone is there specifically for them to help them and that they are not in this alone, that they have choices.

For more information on how you can become a volunteer, click here .