Have you thought about becoming a SAF volunteer as part of your New Year’s resolution?

Some people don’t realize that the American Red Cross is still closely connected to its roots in terms of working alongside the military.  Through our Services to the Armed Forces (SAF) program, we help connect families here in the States with their family member in the service, stateside or across the world.  This is a great opportunity to get involved and give back to Service Members and their families, and great way to incorporate benevolence into your New Year’s resolution! 

SAF volunteers work directly with family members during major events, such as a birth or the death or illness of a close relative,  to verify their emergency, and then follow the correct avenues in order to get their message delivered to their family member in the service.  Depending on the type of emergency, where the service member is located, and if it is during a time of war or peace, the Service Member may be granted leave to come home or an opportunity to call home.

If you would like to become involved in this great service, you will need to complete the Services to Armed Forces- Emergency Communication Message Training through the Chapter.  This course is a basic introductory class that gives an overview of how to receive and process a case in the Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services program, and also has an online course component that provides more hands on training. 

To schedule training, please call us at 716.878.2387 or visit us online.