The Mohawk Valley Chapter was recharted in 1976 .  Combining the Ilion-Frankfort, East Herkimer and Little Falls Red Cross Chapters into one chapter, the Mohawk Valley Chapter.

Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES)

Among many of the programs and services brought to you by the American Red Cross is the Armed Forces Emergency Services or AFES for short.

This service helps military members and military families cope with separation and other special needs related to service in the Armed Forces. Services include around-the-clock, around-the-world communication between military members and their families, neutral, impartial assistance, comfort and counseling, independent verification of emergency situations, and more.

In 1917, Congress chartered the American Red Cross to have twenty-four hour emergency communication between service personnel and their families. This service decreases the time it takes to inform a service person of an emergency at home and the time waiting for a possible leave to come home. In the past year the American Red Cross Mohawk Valley Chapter has helped 33 families to inform service personnel of vital information.

We need volunteers to keep this line of communication running!

During office hours our staff is on the job taking calls from families in search of information on loved ones in the military or handling an emergency situation. But after regular hours we depend on our volunteers to be the connection from their own home. If you are interested in becoming a volunteer, please call the office or e-mail us at redcross@telenet.net.

The American Red Cross Mohawk Valley Chapter started our own tele-recruiting in October 1998. You will no longer have to call the Syracuse office to schedule a time to give blood. You will be talking with trained people in your own community.

We need volunteers to help tele-recruit, work blood drives, and be drivers to transport the blood. If interested, give us a call or e-mail us at redcross@telenet.net. Call for a list of blood drives scheduled in your area.

Disaster Services

The American Red Cross Mohawk Valley Chapter has a great Disaster Action Team (DAT). We were recently involved with helping residents near the Duofold Factory when it caught fire in Mohawk on June 9th, 2000.

• Emergency Response Vehicle Driver's Training - Saturday, March 16th, Chapter office.
  
  
• Emergency Operations Center Training - Saturday, March 23rd, Syracuse (Call us for information).
  
  
• Disaster Liaison Training, Saturday, March 30th, Syracuse (Call us for information).
  
  
• Disaster Action Team meeting for local disaster volunteers - Thursday, March 21st, 6:00 pm @ 911 Center, Herkimer.
  
  

The American Red Cross Mohawk Valley Chapter offers First Aid, CPR, Child Care, Babysitting and Instructor Training courses in the community. Learn more about our current schedule of community courses.

International Services is very important to the community. We can help trace an individual family member that has been missing by an act of war or a natural disaster. Please contact our office for more info.

Mohawk Valley Chapter's youth program was established in partnership with the General Herkimer Boy Scouts Council. Girls and boys between the ages of 14 and 20 are encouraged to join.

While having fun you will have the opportunity to work at blood drives, first aid stations, and disaster drills. You will also learn first aid and CPR, become a lifeguard, teach others about injury prevention, injury response, hygiene, and much more.

By being explorers and mentors today you can be the leaders of tomorrow!

Volunteer with the Mohawk Valley Chapter. Learn more about how you can help.

Ombudsmen Program

The Mohawk Valley Chapter in partnership with the Office for the Aging have established a new Ombudsmen Program for the Herkimer County area.

Previously, if there was a question or problem to be resolved between residents and a facility, the Ombudsman state office in Albany was called. As a result only complaints were dealt with. Both facilities and residents need and want this service in the Herkimer County area as well. The benefit of having an Ombudsman Program here is we can prevent a problem before it starts.

A volunteer Ombudsman has to successfully complete thirty-six hours of classroom and field work. After completion of the course, Ombudsmen use their time in long term care facilities getting to know residents, staff, and administration. By getting to know the people involved, it is easier for the Ombudsman to recognize and deal with potential problems.

• Ombudsman Volunteer Meeting Monday, March 25th, 6:00 p.m. at Chapter office.
  

If you have any question about this new service or are interested in becoming a volunteer Ombudsman, call us at 866-2890 or e-mail us at: redcross@telenet.net.

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