Volunteers sent to help w. Red Cross

BUFFALO, N.Y (WIVB) - Two Western New York volunteers with the American Red Cross were deployed to help in hurricane zones in preparation for whatever damage Sandy sends the country.

The local chapter is able to send volunteers where ever they may be needed.

According to Red Cross' Disaster Services, many volunteers have been set up across the East Coast.

Mike Hoplight of Niagara Falls and Tara Hughes of Amherst, will serve as a logistics supervisor and a disaster mental health leader.

It isn't so much that the victims of Hurricane Sandy need the blood, it's the fact that those blood centers have had to close. Boxes are shipped all over the country and that's why more donors are needed.

American Red Cross Communications Coordinator Jay Bonafede says, "So we're encouraging people to donate blood now before the storm hits to help build up that supply so we're ready to respond.

With Hurricane Sandy is expecting to make landfall soon, blood centers are now open 7 days a week.

The standard blood donations are always needed and the platelets, are especially in need for cancer patients and burn victims across the country.

Buffalo is of course known to be the City of Good Neighbors, but local blood centers hope Western New York will extend that to people in need wherever they may be.

Disaster Services Senior Vice President Charley Shimanski says, "We know there will be essentially a devastating impact in certain areas of the country. It's important that the Red Cross can provide sufficient important blood supply for anyone in the community. So these blood drives in local communities are essential for us to maintain the blood supply that's going to be so needed at a time like this.

For information on the nearest blood collection center or more ways you can help the American Red Cross:

Call-1-800 RED CROSS

Text REDCROSS to 90999

-Or-

Visit www.redcross.org