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Toledo, Oh (September 5, 2017) — The American Red Cross is recruiting volunteers to join its workforce to help people affected by Hurricane Harvey and other disasters locally and across the country. In the past week, the Ohio Buckeye Region of the Red Cross has sent 67 volunteers to Texas and Louisiana in response to Hurricane Harvey and more are on their way. In addition, the Red Cross is closely monitoring Hurricane Irma and is beginning preparations to get workers and supplies in place. The Ohio Buckeye Region will recruit and train 100 new volunteers per week to assist with the response and recovery efforts for the weeks and months to come. Locally, volunteers are responding to daily emergencies close to home, including home fires, tornadoes 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. Disaster relief volunteer orientations for new volunteers will be held every Thursday at 6:00 p.m. at the American Red Cross of Northwest Ohio, 1111 Research Dr. Toledo, OH 43614. Anyone interested is asked to call the Red Cross at 419-329-2900 prior to coming that evening. “This year, more families throughout the country have found themselves standing outside their destroyed home and left wondering what to do next,” said Rachel Hepner-Zawodny, Executive Director of the NW Ohio Chapter. “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.” About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross. American Red Cross 1111 Research Dr. Toledo, OH 43614 Redcross.org/Ohiobuckeye