OTTUMWA, IOWA -- The Southern Prairie Chapter, American Red Cross is launching a large volunteer recruitment effort.  “Our goal is to increase our volunteer base so when disaster strikes we can strike back” said Nancy Place, Emergency Services Coordinator for the chapter.

During times of disaster the community relies on the American Red Cross to be prepared and respond.  Part of preparing is to increase the volunteer base to have trained volunteers ready to respond.  Executive Director, Barry Dodd said “we are a volunteer organization—volunteers are our lifeline”

To launch this exiting venture the Southern Prairie Charter will be conducting a 1 ½ hour Volunteer Orientation on March 23, 2009 from 12:00-1:30.    The orientation will be conducted at 408 East Main in Ottumwa.  If you are interested in responding to disasters, teaching others to save a life, or assisting in the office, give us a call, help the American Red Cross transform the volunteer landscape and increase our response base, call 682.4571 or logon to southernprairie.redcross.org