A free introductory session on disaster services will be offered this month by the Islands Chapter of the American Red Cross.

The session will be from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Saturday, April 30 at South Whidbey Assembly of God Church, 5373 Maxwelton Road, across from South Whidbey Elementary School.

The course is the first step for those wanting to help care for people at a Red Cross shelter during an emergency, said volunteer team leader Nancy Waddell.

Next month, a shelter operations course focusing on specific training in disaster response will be offered on Saturday, May 21.

“It will take many volunteers to run a shelter, and we would like to be as prepared as possible,” Waddell said.

For more information or to register for either class, call the church at 221-1656 or e-mail swdisasterteam@whidbey.com, or visit the Red Cross website at www.theislandsredcross.org.