BOSTON -- The Red Cross is in the midst of what some have called the largest mobilization response to a natural disaster in the nation's history.

The American Red Cross of Massachusetts Bay's Deborah Jackson said the organization has opened about 300 shelters in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama that are serving about 90,000 hurricane victims. The Red Cross has about 3,000 workers on the ground in the Gulf region, and they are moving in another 600 each day.

"The efforts right now are focused on getting sheltering, care and feeding, food and clothing for people who have been affected and moving them into safe locations where we can," she said.

Jackson said the best way to help hurricane victims is to send money, not supplies.

"We need financial support, of course, that is always the first and foremost matter because (we need to) get supplies and get supplies closest to the affected areas. People, for example, have asked if they can bring food or clothing to the Red Cross and ship it down there -- that is not an efficient or cost-effective way to do it," she said.

There are volunteer opportunities available through the Red Cross.

"On the volunteer front, if people are interested, they should call their local chapter (of the Red Cross). We are doing expedited training and we are getting people on the pipeline. This is going to be a long-term response effort for the Red Cross. We will need people for a long time with this," Jackson said. "We really want people to be patient and we want your help -- call, come in, get trained and we will get them into the system once they are cleared and trained. It is very possible that people will be called in the near term."

Volunteers will go through a three-day training course before being sent to the Gulf.

"Volunteers need to be prepared for a hardship assignment. They will have trouble getting accustomed to what they're seeing. They need to be emotionally and physically prepared. They need to be prepared to lift up to 50 to 100 pounds a day. They will be serving mass amounts of water and food," said Nicole Valentine, of the Red Cross.

"I'm willing to do anything that's needed. I have carpentry skills, I have a CDL license -- I can drive a bus. I have health care services behind me. Anything they need, wherever they need it the most," said volunteer Sherry LaJeunesse.

"We stand here in nice shelters, nice day -- and to go down for people who are just fighting for sheer survival -- it's got to be a tough battle they're fighting," said volunteer Donald Bamberger.

The Red Cross plans to be in the Gulf region for the next six to 12 months.

If Massachusetts residents are interested in volunteering for the relief effort, they should call the Red Cross at (617) 375-0700.