American Red Cross - United Valley Branch
| Address: | United Valley Chapter 475 Pleasant St. Lewiston, ME 04240 |
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| Phone: | (207) 795-4004 ext. 303 |
| Fax: | (207) 795-4037 |
| E-mail: | [email protected] |
| Website: | Website |
| Contact: | Eric Lynes , Director of Emergency Services - Lewiston |
| Services: | The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers, guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The American Red Cross also offers CPR, First Aid, Babysitters training, CPR for the Professional rescuer, Bloodbourne pathogens and Disaster Training. For caregivers we offer a series of Caregiving classes that are free of charge to anyone 65 and over or anyone caring for someone 65 or over. With CPR, First Aid and Bloodbourne Pathogens we can cater to most company requirements to have such classes. Whether it is helping at the local chapter office, responding to provide emergency assistance in your area, or wanting to help around the nation during disasters, the fact of the matter is that around 97% of American Red Cross services are provided by folks that the Red Cross doesn't pay. Maybe it's a way that you can make a difference. Here's the process in a nutshell. The first step in the process is to complete a volunteer application. Once you complete it we'll set up a time for an interview, which will most likely be done by a volunteer. He or she will, among other things, find your interests and make initial recommendations. After that you will be asked to complete a background check, discuss your interest with the career staff person for that specialty, and be scheduled for an orientation. As a general rule, our volunteers are required to provide for their own transportation to and from their assignment. You can elect to be a task-specific volunteer (e.g. help paint the classroom) rather than a continuing volunteer. Unfortunately, we are generally not able to accept folks for court-ordered community service; we can accept school related service. Minors can be accepted to perform work in a group when accompanied by an adult representative of the group or can work as an individual limited to our Portland or Lewiston office from 9am-4pm weekdays. |
| Volunteer Opportunities: | A lot of people do not know that the American Red Cross provides verification of emergencies for the military services. For members of the servicemen and servicewomen away from home this may be the service that provides announcement of the birth of a child, or helps the military determine if the service person should be granted emergency leave because dad has had a heart attack. Like disaster services this is a twenty-four hour a day service, with after hours coverage provided by volunteers. For those who are not able to leave home in the middle of the night, this often is the way that they can best volunteer their services. If you are able to take call on an occasional night during the week, and an occasional weekend. Please contact the American Red Cross for more information. (207)795-4004 or (207)626-7838. Other volunteer opportunities: Registration Assistant - You would be responsible for greeting blood donors, giving them their registration forms and relaying to them the items to be completed, areas of the form that need be read and where they are to proceed from that point. Aid & Escort - You will be responsible for guiding donors from the donation area to the canteen area at a blood drive. Part of you responsibilities are to make sure that donors make it safely to the canteen table. Canteen Assistant - You will provide donors with juice and light snacks and watch donors to make sure they are not likely to faint, summoning a nurse when it seems probable there might be a problem. Please contact the American Red Cross for more information. (207) 795-4004. |
