The American Red Cross is urging individuals to become volunteers as disaster responses have nearly doubled over the past decade. Interim CEO Catherine Rabenstine highlighted the critical need for more volunteers due to the rising number of disasters nationwide. The Red Cross provides essential services such as disaster relief, blood donation, and support for military families. Interested parties can visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more about volunteer opportunities.
“We’re seeing both the frequency and intensity of disasters increase across the country and the Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters as we did a decade ago to help people. This uptick in responses means we need more volunteers. The need to help has never been greater,” said Catherine Rabenstine, Interim CEO of the Illinois Red Cross.
DISASTER VOLUNTEERS ─ Some of our most needed disaster-related volunteer roles include:
- Disaster Action Team: Most of the 60,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are smaller disasters like home fires, and these are no less devastating to the families affected. As a
- Disaster Action Team volunteer, you can help comfort and support people in your community by meeting any immediate needs, such as food, shelter, clothing, or supplies, and connecting them to long-term recovery services. We supply all the training you need.
- Disaster Recovery Care: Casework volunteers provide support to people after disasters to help them get back on their feet. This can include providing referrals to other organizations, serving as an advocate, and issuing financial assistance through a special online system. Volunteers are needed to help both virtually and onsite after disasters.
- Disaster Mental Health: Disaster Mental Health volunteers provide mental health support to those impacted by a disaster. To be qualified, you must hold a master’s degree and a current, unencumbered license as a social worker, psychologist, professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, psychiatrist, school psychologist, or school counselor. Current psychiatric nurses with state licenses as registered nurses and at least two years of experience in a psychiatric setting are also qualified, as are retired mental health professionals who were licensed and maintained a license or certification in good standing upon retirement.
BIOMEDICAL SERVICES ─ The Red Cross helps to supply about 40% of the nation’s blood, and we depend on volunteers to help ensure patients have access to this lifesaving gift.
- Blood Donor Ambassador: Volunteer Blood Donor Ambassadors ensure that blood donors have a pleasant and fulfilling experience, from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. They greet donors, answer questions, and thank them for their donations.
- Blood Transportation Specialist: Volunteer Transportation Specialists deliver life-saving blood products from Red Cross distribution facilities to hospitals using a Red Cross-owned vehicle. Typical shifts are about 4 hours. We ask for a commitment of 2-4 shifts per month (or more if you can).
