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Ready When the Time Comes

The Ready When the Time Comes program recruits and trains corporate disaster volunteers. This Red Cross program is founded and underwritten by W.W. Grainger, Inc., the leading broad line supplier of facilities maintenance products in North America. Grainger is headquartered in Chicago, where Ready When the Time Comes was developed in a partnership with the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago.

Ready When the Time ComesThe American Red Cross is the nation’s premier disaster relief organization. We respond to more than 70,000 disasters nationally and more than 600 locally each year, including residential fires, storms, tornadoes and floods. This requires not only Red Cross employees and trained disaster volunteers, but also specially-trained, quickly mobilized volunteers who can fill specific needs. Ready When the Time Comes is designed to recruit and prepare those volunteers.

All disaster responses start locally and it is important that initial, local responses have adequate numbers of trained responders. By supplying volunteers for temporary disaster assignments, your business helps to ensure that disaster victims in the Kansas City area get a good start toward recovery.

How Does the Program Work?
Ready When the Time Comes
After a partnership has been established, the Chapter will, if requested, provide a general orientation about disaster response to interested company employees. When a disaster occurs and volunteers are needed, a designated company representative will be contacted and advised of the need for volunteers.

Volunteers will then be given “just in time” training and assigned to one of the functions listed below:
  • Feeding -- provide meals to disaster victims from mobile vehicles or fixed sites.
  • Sheltering -- assist in providing safe, temporary shelter to disaster victims.
  • Disaster Assessment -- assist in assessing the disaster’s impact on affected residences.
  • Response Center Network -- providing information by telephone to victims of disaster, both locally and nationally.


Ready When the Time ComesAlternatively, partner organizations may prefer volunteers receive training in advance of a disaster. This may be provided at the organization’s location or at the Chapter.

Program Requirements

  • Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age.
  • Partner organizations must be able to provide a minimum of 25 employee volunteers to the program.
  • Businesses will be asked to commit to a Voluntary Statement of Understanding that
    outlines willingness to participate in the Ready When the Time Comes program.


If you would like additional information about the Ready When the Time Comes program, please call Sara Loar at 816-841-5241.
American Red Cross
Greater Kansas City Chapter
211 W. Armour Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64111 USA		         Phone 816-931-8400
Fax 816-531-7306		 United Way Member Agency

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