HARRISBURG, Pa. — The new year is here, and many people are making resolutions for 2024.
The American Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania is asking people to make one more.
That is—to be come a volunteer.
Currently, there are more than 3,000 volunteers in Pennsylvania. Last year, they responded to more than 1,500 disasters across the Commonwealth.
Volunteers provide relief and comfort for disaster victims, lifesaving blood products for patients, emergency support for military families and veterans, and much more.
The Red Cross says there are two main areas people can sign up to volunteer:
Disaster Volunteers
Some of the 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, they can help comfort and support people in their community by meeting any immediate needs such as food, shelter, clothing or supplies and connecting them to long-term recovery services. Red Cross supplies 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, one 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 license as a registered nurse and at least two years’ 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 said they help supply about 40% of the nation’s blood, and they 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 donation.
- Blood Transportation Specialist: Volunteer Transportation Specialists deliver lifesaving blood products from Red Cross distribution facilities to hospitals, using a Red Cross-owned vehicle. Typical shifts are about four hours. Red Cross asks for a commitment of two - four shifts per month.
The Red Cross said they’re responding to nearly twice as many large disasters as they did a decade ago. This, along with a growing blood shortage seen across the country, has the Red Cross is asking for more people to help.
"This is a great opportunity to get out in your community, meet people you may have never met before and do something good,” said Nicole Roschella, communications director at the American Red Cross.
“It’s great to be a part of something and a group like the Red Cross.”
The Red Cross said 90% of their workforce is made up of volunteers.
To volunteer, click here.