Red Cross Officially Opening New Center

The American Red Cross will host an official grand opening of its service center in Camarillo on March 12 from 2 to 4 p.m.

The center provides health and safety training, disaster preparedness and relief, as well as other services to the Camarillo area.

Organizers opened the facility after residents said they wanted to take advantage of Red Cross services without having to drive as far, said Ann Sobel, executive director of the Red Cross’ Ventura County chapter.

“Since we did not have anything in the central part of the county, it was the first place for us to do that,” she said.

The center, at 836 Calle Plano, is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. It will provide baby-sitting classes, first aid and CPR training, and water safety courses, Sobel said.

Five days after the center opened, it became a hub for providing food to emergency workers recovering debris from the Alaska Airlines crash off Point Mugu last month. The center has provided about 7,000 meals to rescue and recovery workers, Sobel said. The Red Cross will continue providing those services for another two weeks.

Other Ventura County Red Cross centers are in Simi Valley, Ventura and at the Naval Construction Battalion Center in Port Hueneme.

Use of the new building was donated by Peter Plotkin in honor of his late wife, Betty R. Plotkin, a longtime volunteer and supporter of the American Red Cross. The center will be named after her.

The grand opening will include a ribbon cutting by the Camarillo Chamber of Commerce, a display of historical Red Cross memorabilia, a Red Cross disaster vehicle display and CPR and first aid demonstrations. Organizers will also hold a drawing for a day of golf for two at Las Posas Country Club.