WNY Red Cross holds volunteer boot camp

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - In the wake of recent natural disasters such as hurricanes Helene and Milton, the Western New York chapter of the American Red Cross is stepping up its efforts to prepare communities for emergencies.

A volunteer boot camp was held by the Red Cross of WNY on Saturday where participants received all the necessary training needed to be a shelter volunteer.

The American Red Cross is an organization that provides support for people affected by disasters. After Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida and swept out neighborhoods down South, thousands of red cross disaster responders from across the country were deployed to help with relief efforts.

Less than two weeks later, Florida was hit with yet another hurricane leaving behind even more damage and not enough volunteers.

"Volunteers man our shelters," said Katelyn Palumbo, disaster program manager at the WNY Red Cross. "They run and lead a lot of our work. The workforce of the American Red Cross is 90% volunteers."

On Saturday, the WNY chapter of the American Red Cross looked to alleviate the volunteer shortage. The nonprofit organization held a volunteer bootcamp in Buffalo, Rochester and Endicott where participants received training onsite to leave with the ability to deploy as a shelter volunteer.

"These folks could be going to any of the areas impacted by Helene or Milton," explained Palumbo. "They're also now ready to go be Red Cross volunteers in the future. So, we're ready for future disasters that hit here at home or anywhere else in the country."

Those who signed up for the class learned a number of things about being a shelter volunteer. They learned how to register people into the shelter when they first arrive, how to take care of people who might be experiencing an immense amount of stress following a disaster, and how to operate supplies used in the temporary homes.

Participants say they wanted to be able to lend a helping hand when it's needed most and the knowledge they gained will help them do that.

"I just need to do something to help out," said participant Donald Renczkowski. "The need is there, and I just want to help."

"It's a real pleasure," said participant John Issler. "I think it's just a different chapter in my life.'

The Red Cross of Western New York is always looking for more volunteers to help out when disasters strike. No prior experience is needed. If you're interested in applying, you can do so here.

Trina Catterson joined the News 4 team in 2024. She previously worked at WETM-TV in Elmira, a sister station of WIVB. See more of her work here.