The Pocono Mountains Chapter of The American Red Cross held an open house meeting Wednesday afternoon in hopes of enticing volunteers to join them in several upcoming projects.

"The Red Cross is 95 percent volunteer run," Executive Director Michele Baehr said.Baehr and volunteer specialist Destinee Harper were on hand to explain to would-be volunteers the importance of helping their communities by donating their time and talents."The hardest thing about getting people to volunteer is a lot of them think they have to have a certain skill, but we will supply the training," Baehr said.The Red Cross is working to add people to its Disaster Action Team. The DAT helps people affected by disasters ranging from home fires to hurricanes by providing food, shelter, essential supplies and comfort to those in need.Gail Solomon took the training to become a responder for the team over the autumn season. In October Solomon's newly acquired skills we called upon when the DAT assisted the survivors of a house fire on First Street in Lehighton."I took the training, and the next week there was the fire. We were able to help a woman get shelter and set her up with food and clothing through the Red Cross," Solomon said. "When you're in a disaster you can't think. I followed up with the woman to help her contact her insurance agencies to see what kind of relief she could get."The Red Cross is currently working on an initiative for the military, Service to the Armed Forces, a program that helps connect families and veterans with many valuable resources. The organization helps train military families on coping and resiliency skills and supplies them with recreational and therapeutic support in military and VA health care facilities."The Red Cross started on the battlefield with Clara Barton in the 1800s. So it's really important we help the military," Baehr said.Barbara Griffith stopped by the open house to see how her time could best serve her community."The pay for volunteering is on the inside," she said of her time spent with the nonprofit.According to Baehr there is no time clock for volunteering."It can be an hour, it can be 10. All you really have to have is a caring heart and want to help your community. It's not as time-consuming as most think it is."Baehr is searching for people from the area to join the advisory board this upcoming year."I work with Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Carbon counties. We are looking to build a board that represents all of our areas," Baehr said. The meetings move in location, so board members will not always have to travel outside of their home county.The easiest way to volunteer is still by donating blood during one of the many drives throughout the year.To become a volunteer, find a local blood drive, or for more information on the organization contact

volunteerservices.NEPA@redcross.org.