Volunteer Services at the Red Cross

Whenever or wherever there is suffering in the world, we know we will see images of the Red Cross spring into action. The Red Cross/Red Crescent is a worldwide humanitarian organization whose purpose is "to help those who suffer, without discrimination whether it is during conflict, in response to natural or man-made disasters, or to alleviate the suffering brought by conditions of chronic poverty."

As citizens, most of us do our part to help out in times of need, donating millions of dollars to the Red Cross to aid relief efforts at natural disasters. But did you know that we could help out year round by volunteering just a couple of hours a week to our local Red Cross chapters?

The American Red Cross is truly a unique organization because volunteers make up 96% of their staff nationwide. Here is a list of overall services Red Cross volunteers provide throughout the country:

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: Disaster Relief

Many Red Cross volunteers aid in disaster response at the local, national, and international level. The majority of disaster response volunteers work with families affected or displaced by home fires. All disaster volunteers undergo several hours of training, and experienced volunteers are sent to assist with national and international relief efforts.

In the aftermath of the disaster, Red Cross volunteers also help victims apply for and receive assistance from local, state, and national programs. They work with local organizations to donate supplies and temporary shelter as needed.

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: Health and Safety

Volunteers train a variety of emergency response programs, including CPR, first aid, life guarding, babysitting, pet first aid, wilderness first aid, family caregiving, and disaster preparedness. The American Red Cross also offers CPR train-the-trainer classes for organizations who need to have their own in-house CPR instructors. While having a medical background is helpful, it's not always required to volunteer in this area.

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: Blood Donation and Blood Banks

The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the country, however not all local chapters manage this function. There is a trained medical staff that usually handles the actual donation process and blood banks. Volunteers are mostly needed to assist with collection and blood drives.

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: Military Support

The Red Cross's partnership with the military stretches back to founder Clara Barton, who "risked her life on the battlefields of the Civil War to tend to fallen soldiers." Today, Red Cross volunteers assist military families with access to financial aid, veteran services, and perhaps the most important - delivery of urgent family messages. This is especially crucial during deployment when conventional means of communication are not available.

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: Family Tracing Services

If you've never been through it, it's hard to imagine the chaos and confusion caused by armed conflict or natural disasters. Many families are separated, with little or no means to find their loved ones. And today's global population means that whenever a disaster happens, individuals living in other parts of the world scramble to find out if their relatives are still alive.

As part of their humanitarian relief efforts, the American Red Cross International Family Tracing Services seeks to reconnect families who have been separated by armed conflicts or natural disaster. Local volunteers at disaster sites help survivors send brief messages to family members throughout the world to let them know that they are alive and safe.

And since 1990, the American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center in Baltimore has helped families discover the fate of 43,000 of their loved ones missing since the Holocaust. For information on how you can help, email them at hwvtc@arc-cmc.org.

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: Administration

With all that the Red Cross does, they need people to manage their efforts. There are over 700 local American Red Cross Chapters nationwide, with many volunteers serving as chairs, on the board of directors, or on advisory boards. Administrative volunteers also help with tasks like fundraising, public relations, marketing, data entry, website management, and clerical work.

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: How to Volunteer

Because Red Cross services depend on individual community needs, available volunteer opportunities will vary by chapter. All Red Cross volunteer opportunities are listed on nonprofit website VolunteerMatch.org. Or you can contact local American Red Cross chapters to find out which volunteer opportunities are available in your area.

To become a registered Red Cross volunteer, you must submit an application and pass a background check. You will also be interviewed to determine which volunteer service area best matches your skills, interests, and schedule. Some volunteer positions have a minimum age or skills requirement - see the job description for more information.

Volunteer Services at the Red Cross: Final Thoughts

As a volunteer for the Southern Nevada Chapter, I enjoy the varied opportunities and flexible scheduling this position offers me. In the last several months, I've assisted in telethons, fundraising efforts for the Haiti earthquake, CPR workshops, babysitting classes, and office clerical work. I've also been able to further my personal development by attending Disaster training and Health & Safety classes.

If you are looking for ways to give back to your local community, I highly recommend starting with your local American Red Cross chapter. You will find that the reward you receive far exceeds the time that you give.

Sources:

Personal experience

American Red Cross

Volunteer, The American Red Cross

Restoring Family Links, The American Red Cross

Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center, The American Red Cross

American Red Cross, VolunteerMatch.org

American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter