Bowling Green, Ky. - The South Central Kentucky Chapter of the American Red Cross, in cooperation with Western Kentucky University’s Public Broadcasting, The Daily News and The Carroll Knicely Conference Center, will provide Disaster Services training Monday and Tuesday.

Volunteers are currently needed to assist with hurricane relief efforts, and individuals wishing to aid American Red Cross efforts are required to complete these training courses. The first course is an Introduction to Disaster Services offered on-line. This brief interactive session can be completed before or after the on-site training and can be found by clicking on the American Red Cross link at www.wkyupbs.org.

Community Services Training will be offered Monday, Oct. 3, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center. Shelter Operations Training will follow the next evening, Tuesday, Oct. 4, also from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at the Carroll Knicely Conference Center.

The Carroll Knicely Conference Center is located at 2355 Nashville Road in Bowling Green.

All training is free. Space is limited; interested persons should pre-register by calling 800-599-9598 during business hours before 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 3. You may also pre-register on-line at www.wkyupbs.org.

Janelle McGee, who will conduct the training for the American Red Cross, said: "As the hurricane relief efforts continue in the Gulf Coast there is growing need for volunteers. It’s important to equip volunteers with the proper training and knowledge to prepare them for deployment when disaster strikes."

Jack Hanes, director of Educational Telecommunications at WKU, commented: "Western’s Public Broadcasting knows first hand what a great community this is. Giving others the tools, training and information to help those impacted by these storms is an important first step. We are honored to participate."

In addition to the support of WKYU-PBS and Western’s Public Radio, the Carroll Knicely Conference Center is donating the use of its space, and The Daily News is donating advertising to promote the training.

More WKU news is available at www.wku.edu. If you’d like to receive WKU news via e-mail, send a message to WKUNews@wku.edu.

For more information, contact Terry Reagan at (270) 745-6488.