During Red Cross Month We Celebrate Our Volunteer Heroes

March is Red Cross Month, the perfect time for the American Red Cross to celebrate our wonderful volunteers who make our lifesaving mission possible.

More than 265,000 individuals give their time to support the Red Cross, making up 90% of the Red Cross workforce. These remarkable people step up to help someone get the relief and care they need on what is often the worst day of their lives. Visit redcross.org/RedCrossMonth to learn how to get involved.

VOLUNTEERS AND THE RED CROSS

DAVE BARMAN hails from Waunakee, Wisconsin, and is a longtime Red Cross volunteer. He has been helping at blood drives since 1985.

Barman has held various positions throughout the years, but his favorite is blood donor ambassador because he gets to visit with blood donors to provide comforting words, learn about why they donate, answer their questions and thank them for donating. His courtesy and professionalism create a favorable impression that keeps donors coming back year after year.

When asked why he started volunteering, his answer was simple. “Someone asked me to help,” he said. Barman is also a loyal blood donor. He started donating blood in 1973 and has been giving blood ever since. Over the years, Barman has donated about 112 lifesaving gallons of blood.

Barman is also familiar with how the Red Cross supports the military through its Service to the Armed Forces. When he was stationed with the Army in Korea, a family emergency happened back home. The Red Cross helped him to return home to spend more time with his family. “The Red Cross does so much for everyone in so many ways,” said Barman.

RANDY WARBURTON, Belgrade, Montana, got some sage advice from his doctor when he was retiring. “Just remember, Randy, the day you quit helping people is the day you start dying,” he said. Warburton took those words to heart.

He was drawn to the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program and serves as a regional caseworker for the American Red Cross Hero Care Network, facilitating financial aid, emergency communications and referrals to service members and their families.

When the family of a deployed service member has a major life event back home, such as the birth of a child or loss of an immediate family member, the network verifies the event and coordinates with a commanding officer. If the service member has an issue, the connection runs the other direction, too. When service members or veterans need help, the network can connect them with financial assistance and local resources. 

“When I thank them for their service, they thank me for my support. It does mean a lot to them that we are doing this,” Warburton said. “If you ever have an emergency with a deployed person, this is the process you want to use. The message goes to command, and they know it’s verified and are more likely to grant leave.”

Randy is also on the disaster recovery team, following up with families to make sure they have what they need to continue moving forward. He also gives blood, noting that means he’s supporting three missions of the American Red Cross.  

VERSIE PAGE, from Sellers, South Carolina, became a Red Cross volunteer because she wanted to give back to the community. "I've seen how traumatic it can be when someone experiences a home fire, and I wanted to be the person who jumps in and lets them know that relief is on the way," she said.

Versie is a member of the Eastern S.C. Chapter Disaster Action Team (DAT), assisting families in the aftermath of local disasters, most of which are home fires. "When I go to a DAT response, I'm meeting somebody who's lost almost everything they had, and it's like I'm an angel to them," said Versie on what the Red Cross symbol means to someone experiencing one of the worst days of their life. "I'm coming to help and let them know this is not the end of the road for them. It just feels good giving back."

From offering a shoulder to cry on to meeting any immediate needs for emergency lodging to connecting people with long-term recovery services, Red Cross volunteers ensure that families don't face tough times alone. 

"I met with this guy, and he was disabled and living by himself. Talking to him and learning what he went through — he'd lost everything; he didn't even have a toothbrush,” Versie recalled about a recent disaster response. “I got him a care package and a blanket, and it really touched his heart to know that somebody cared about him and he wasn't alone." 

Many Disaster Action Team volunteers share Versie's passion for helping others. Whether they've experienced a disaster themselves or simply want to help their neighbors in times of crisis, Red Cross volunteers make a difference. 

"I received blood in 2005 while I was three months pregnant at the time," said Versie, a survivor of breast, ovarian and brain cancer. "I'm not just a volunteer; the Red Cross has impacted me as a blood recipient. If you love people, give back. Join the Red Cross and give them a helping hand — you won't regret it."

BE A HERO, VOLUNTEER Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn how you can make a difference in these most-needed positions.

• Disaster Action Team: These volunteers help families with their immediate needs after a home fire or other disaster, offering support during a very difficult time. As a team member, you will provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover.

• Blood donor ambassadors: Volunteers in this role engage with blood donors by greeting them at blood drives, helping them register, answering questions, providing information and assisting them at the refreshments table.

• Blood transportation specialists: There is a high need for volunteer transportation specialists who support hospital patients by delivering blood from our facilities to local hospitals. If you have a little free time, love driving and enjoy meeting new people, the Red Cross has a great volunteer spot waiting for you.

• Hero Care Network Caseworker: If you are someone with strong listening skills and the ability to work with culturally diverse populations, you can join the Hero Care Network as a casework volunteer. The Hero Care Network provides emergency communications and critical services to military members, veterans and their families all over the world 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Virtual volunteer opportunities are available.