When Randi Feno needed them most, the American Red Cross was there for her.

Now, the Albrightsville resident wants to give back, and she took the first step Monday by signing up to become a volunteer for the nonprofit's Pocono chapter.Like many volunteers, Feno was inspired to give her time after being helped in a crisis."Three years ago my house burned down," she said. "The Red Cross was right there to help. It didn't matter how much money we had or who we were, they didn't ask any questions."Feno said Red Cross volunteers provided her family with toothbrushes, washcloths and other essentials they needed in their day-to-day lives."I greatly appreciated that, and now it's time to give back," she said.Michele Baehr, executive director of the Pocono chapter, said there are around 20 Red Cross volunteers currently from Carbon County and she hoped to add more through a recruitment drive Monday at the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development Office in Lehighton."We'd like to double our crew here in Carbon County," she said. "Carbon just came under the Pocono chapter so we're working to re-engage folks who have been volunteering and draw up some new interest. There are plenty of opportunities available."Some of those opportunities include helping with blood drives; teaching CPR, lifeguard techniques or how to give first aid in a traumatic situation; and providing relief following a disaster or during a rescue effort.The Red Cross is 94 percent run by volunteers."Volunteering is good for you," Baehr said. "It gives you a great feeling to be that caregiver after a home fire or to just be there and support someone who could use it. We're hoping more folks want to get out there and help their neighbors."Gail Solomon of Jim Thorpe also signed up to be a volunteer, noting that she would like to give back to others.Feno, meanwhile, hopes to join the chapter's disaster action team.Prospective volunteers who missed Monday's event can still fill an out an application at

http://www.redcross.org/pa/stroudsburg/volunteer."We really want to establish a solid presence for the Red Cross in this area," Baehr said.