Jackie Flowers, a spokesperson for the American Red Cross, said Sunday that Red Cross and Red Crescent organizations in the region had begun to deploy staff and volunteers.

The program deploys former volunteers on high-impact assignments that typically range from three to six months in duration.

The person who will put together much of the plan to deploy volunteers for the Democrats in Stark's 150 swing precincts is John Mroczkowski, regional director of the United Steelworkers' union here.

Besides the phones, both sides are deploying volunteers to distribute leaflets.

The GMMRC helped respond to the H1N1 pandemic, and also deployed volunteers to assist during Hurricane Irene in 2011.

Greek officials said this week that they would deploy 60,000 police officers, firefighters, coast guard officers and volunteers as part of the security network.

All this, of course, delights Democrats, who have been deploying volunteers in seven-foot foam-rubber Butt Man costumes to heckle Mr. Dole.

As part of the effort, they have deployed volunteers to organize town meetings, pass out leaflets and travel door to door in the Republicans' districts.

They deployed volunteers dressed up as cigarettes - "Buttman" - to mock Mr. Dole as he campaigns across the country.

She deployed volunteers in Africa, the Middle East, South America and trouble spots like Kosovo and Afghanistan.