The American Red Cross is pictured at its East Fourth Street location in Jamestown. P-J file photo

In consultation with local community leaders, volunteer board members and executives, the American Red Cross, Western and Central New York Region will be placing the office located 325 E. Fourth St. in Jamestown up for sale, while working with partners to locate a more appropriate facility in Chautauqua County.

“It was determined that the Jamestown property would need over $100,000 in repairs and renovations in order for us to continue operations there,” said Danielle Byrnes, American Red Cross, Western New York Chapter executive director. “A new facility will give our amazing volunteers an exciting opportunity to increase the number of services we provide to the community by allowing us to operate more efficiently.”

Residents across Chautauqua County can still depend on the Red Cross for disaster response, health and safety training, emergency communications for the military and their families, and blood services. Last year, volunteers in Chautauqua County provided comfort and hope to 55 families following 37 home fires and other local disaster incidents; made 41 homes safer, installing 107 free smoke alarms as part of our Home Fire Campaign; trained 3,794 people in lifesaving First Aid/CPR/AED training; provided 138 case services to support military members, veterans, and their families; and collected 2,636 lifesaving blood donations from volunteer donors. If members of the community need to contact the Red Cross, they can still do so by calling 886-7500.

“It is important to remember the critically important role that volunteers already play in delivering Red Cross services. “We have a strong corps of 65 active volunteers in Chautauqua County now,” Byrnes said, “and we will look to grow that number in this community in the months ahead.”

For more information on volunteer opportunities and Red Cross programs and services, visit www.redcross.org/wny.