Whether its half a million disaster victims or one sick child who needs blood, Our vital work is made possible by people like you, who learn how good it can feel to lend a helping hand.

We Depend on Volunteers

Volunteers constitute 97 percent of our total work force to carry on our humanitarian work:

About 11 million Americans turn to us to learn first aid, CPR, swimming, and other health and safety skills. Last year, more than 158,000 people volunteered to teach those courses.

Half the nations blood supply - six million pints annually - is collected by more than 155,000 Red Cross volunteers .

More than 30,900 volunteers serve as chairs, members of boards of directors, or on advisory boards for local Red Cross units - chapters, Blood Services regions, and military stations.

• Board Member: Volunteers serve on local Red Cross unit boards of directors which help to establish policy and direction.
  
• Committee Member: Volunteers serve on special committees with board members on issues such as Service Delivery, Fundraising, and Finance.
• Office of Volunteers: Volunteers assist with writing volunteer job descriptions, setting up volunteer orientation courses, conduct volunteer screening interviews, help with volunteer placement, record keeping, and recognition.
  
• Disaster Services: Volunteers need to respond to state and national disasters.
  
• Disaster Action Team: Volunteers need to respond to single-family fires with a disaster action team supervisor.
  
• Disaster Clerical: Volunteers needed to assemble class packets, stamp brochures, and distribute disaster safety information in the neighborhood as necessary.
  
• Youth Group Liaison: Volunteers serves as liaison with local youth groups that volunteer with the Red Cross.
  
• Youth Team Leader: Adults are needed to help coordinate and supervise activities and service projects. Adult leaders act as positive role models for youth and encourage leadership and personal development.
  
• Youth Volunteers/Programs: Students are encouraged to volunteer answering phones, doing office work, help with mailings, preparing materials for classes and computer data entry.
  
• HIV/AIDS Mentoring: Young people serve as role models and speak to groups of students using Red Cross HIV/AIDS awareness materials.
  
• Health and Safety Instructor: Volunteers needed to teach community as well as preschool and elementary school classes in CPR, First Aid, water safety, and other youth safety presentations.
  
• Baby-sitting Course Instructor: Volunteers become certified to teach American Red Cross Baby-sitting courses to teenagers.
  
• Lifeguard Instructor: Volunteers needed to teach American Red Cross lifesaving course.
  
• Water Safety Instructor: Volunteers need to teach American Red Cross swimming and water safety courses.
  
• First Aid Team: Volunteers are needed to help staff special events throughout the year. Advanced medical training is helpful but not required. Advanced Red Cross First Aid and CPR skills are necessary. Training is available.
  

• Armed Forces Leader: Volunteers work with local members of the military and their families ensuring the delivery of emergency communications.
  
• Blood Donor Recruiter: Volunteers work with individuals, groups, and companies to schedule blood drives.
  
• Blood Drive Worker: Volunteers greet and register blood donors.
  
• Grant Researching/Writing: Volunteers needed to assist and work with the Fund Development Director in writing grants, etc.
  
• Speakers: Volunteer speakers need to do presentations within the community.
  
• Publicity aide: Volunteers need for computer data entry.
  
• Pinch-Hitter Volunteer: Volunteers available to help with unanticipated or irregular tasks as they arrive.
  
• Clerical: Volunteers need to assist with bulk mailing, filing, and inventory etc.
  
• Maintenance: Volunteers needed to help with routine maintenance duties. Stocking supplies and inventory at the shelter.
  
• Special Projects: Volunteers needed to assist with various duties for fundraising and special events.