Red Cross Month: Volunteer Because Help Can’t Wait

September 22, 2020. Pensacola, Florida.
The Friendship Missionary Baptist Church partnered with the American Red Cross and IEEE-USA Moving Disaster Relief to deliver critical recovery services in Brownsville, Pensacola, Florida, which was affected by Hurricane Sally in September 2020. Overseer Timothy May and Ebony May have been out serving their community since day one and are thankful for the partnerships that have blossomed. “The great mission that (the Red Cross) has coincides with the great mission that we have, which is really to help out the less fortunate, especially in times of devastation, because these individuals are already wrestling with several challenges and this (disaster) compounds the challenge. To know that you have an entity like the Red Cross that stepped in along with Full Gospel and Friendship Missionary Baptist Church is everything. As he looks out toward the long line of cars waiting for supplies, he notes that, “We’re recovering. Initially, it was a state of shock. Many in the community did not feel that we were prepared. We know we can’t restore people overnight, but we can give them some sort of relief.” The volunteers had been there all day doing just that – first learning to assess damage, directing traffic, serving food and delivering hundreds of Red Cross relief supplies. They were powered by IEEE-USA Moving Disaster Relief, who were parked at the church to provide electricity, wi-fi, charging stations and more.
Photo by Jaka Vinšek/American Red Cross

More than 300,000 volunteers help make the American Red Cross mission possible. These volunteers provided critical services in Pensacola, Florida after Hurricane Sally swept through in September of last year. Red Cross photo by Jaka Vinsek.

March 01, 2021

It’s American Red Cross Month, a time to honor the more than 300,000 people who volunteer to make our lifesaving mission possible.

Committed to helping all those in need, they help provide emergency support, such as disaster relief, lifesaving blood, critical services for military families and veterans, lifesaving skills like CPR, international aid and so much more.

During Red Cross Month, please consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer to help families in need. Visit redcross.org/VolunteerToday to learn more, including about our most-needed volunteer positions:

Blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists: Blood donations are essential to the health of our communities, and blood donor ambassadors are a vital part of this work by welcoming visitors and taking their temperatures before entering Red Cross facilities and blood drives. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, training course participants, and Red Cross employees and volunteers. We also have a high priority need for transportation specialists to help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals.
Disaster Action Team: Each day, people are forced from their homes due to fires, storms and other disasters. Join the team that responds to more than 60,000 emergencies every year — the vast majority of which are home fires. Our volunteers help families with their immediate needs, ensuring they don’t face tough times alone. If you are team-oriented and want to make a difference, please consider joining the Disaster Action Team and apply now. We supply all the training you need.
Volunteer from home (other virtual positions): Help from the comfort of your own home through a wide range of virtual opportunities. Learn more.

STAYING SAFE DURING PANDEMIC Everyone’s safety is our top priority, and we are working with public health officials to help keep our communities and volunteers safe during COVID-19. When considering volunteer opportunities, review the CDC guidance for people who are at higher risk for severe illness, consult your health care provider and follow local guidance.

#HelpCantWait. Join us. Make a difference. Volunteer. Visit redcross.org/VolunteerToday to get started.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.