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Ready When the Time Comes
Ready When the Time Comes (RWTC) is an American Red Cross volunteer program designed to tap into the organization and manpower resources of American businesses to create a corps of volunteers that can be mobilized during an emergency.
Partnering corporations allow their employees to receive free disaster relief training from the Red Cross. Then, when disasters strike, the corporate partners make their trained employees available to respond to local emergencies as Red Cross disaster services volunteers. Trained employees are available for service at least one day per year.
Program History
RWTC was developed in 2001 as a partnership between the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago and W.W. Grainger, Inc. W.W. Grainger, Inc is the National Founding Sponsor of the Ready When the Time Comes program. On July 12, 2006, Grainger contributed $2 million to the American Red Cross to enable it to expand the program. The Southeast Louisiana Chapter is part of that expansion plan.
Partner companies are asked to:
- Sign a voluntary letter of agreement which establishes a working relationship between the Red Cross and the company.
- Commit to recruiting employees as volunteers.
- Designate a primary and a secondary liaison person who is responsible for managing the program within the company. These are the people who the Red Cross will call in a disaster when the RWTC Team needs to be deployed.
- Provide a location, logistical support and an appropriate time for employee volunteers to be trained.
- Be an active partner - maintain an ongoing liaison with the Red Cross, stay in communication with the volunteers, participate in an annual mock disaster drill, and develop other ways the company can support the work of the Red Cross chapter.
RWTC volunteers can be trained in the following areas of service:
- Sheltering
- Feeding
- Disaster Assessment
- Bulk Distribution
- Client Casework
- Medical or Mental Health (licensed professionals only)
- Staffing
- Instructors
- RTT (Response Technology)
- Media and Public Relations
- Warehousing & Supply
- Other services, as needed by the local Chapter
RWTC is a mutually beneficial partnership that-
- Provides a way for companies to be involved in their communities by responding to community needs after a disaster.
- Associates a company's name and brand with the American Red Cross- one of the world's most trusted charitable organizations.
- Allows companies to give back to their communities in a unique and visible way. Employee teams are deployed to provide assistance during times of disaster, whether it's a natural disaster like a fire, flood, blizzard, earthquake, tornado or hurricane, or a human-caused disaster.
- Gives employees an opportunity to volunteer to meet high-priority local needs. Employee volunteer programs are an excellent way to motivate employees, to build leadership and management skills, and to encourage teamwork.
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