Volunteers the Beating Heart of the Red Cross

It’s National Volunteer Week, a time for the American Red Cross to recognize the nearly 300,000 individuals make our humanitarian work possible each day.

Here in the United States, volunteers respond to more than 60,000 disasters each year; support the collection of blood to help patients receive the critical care they need; aid members of the military, veterans and their families; teach lifesaving skills such as first aid and CPR; help communities prepare for emergencies around the globe and much more.

Around the world, as many as 14 million Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers support the mission of the 192 different national societies. According to the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC), these volunteers are the beating heart of the IFRC. “They are our strength. They are what define us. And they help make the world a safer and more peaceful place every single day.”

These community heroes answer the call to help and care for those who need it most every day across the country and around the globe. Here are some of their stories:

Dianne Griffith, Fort Carson, Colorado

Ask Dianne Griffith why she helps, and she’ll quickly respond because “it feels good” to make others happy. Griffith is a Red Cross volunteer who supports the Evans Army Community Hospital at Fort Carson, Colorado, a 92-bed facility that serves a population of more than 70,000 people.

Griffith leads the dental program, through which military spouses gain a new skill they can use to find a job. Those enrolled in this dental training program must go through a lot of military classes as well as meet Red Cross requirements. Griffith also leads the summer youth program which engages teens in activities like helping to transport wheelchair-bound patients.

“People come into the office with many questions,” said Griffith. “One time I discussed a problem issue with a visitor, and the woman just reached out and gave me a big hug and said, ‘thank you’.” 

Robin Streeter, Washington, D.C.

Robin Streeter is a data management and visualization volunteer supporting the International Services Department. Streeter, a retired U.S. Department of Health and Human Services epidemiologist, wanted to use her skills to help others. 

“One of the things that drew me to the Red Cross was my interest in the growing frequency of disasters worldwide, and how I could help,” said Streeter. Using her expertise, she wrote scripts to help analyze data and create charts showing the skills and training that disaster specialists need to effectively respond to global disasters.

Streeter was so successful in her work that she was asked to help the British Red Cross with similar analyses. Streeter’s work has applications across the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies.

Jane Dean, Long Beach, California

Jane Dean is a volunteer health services nurse in Los Angeles, California. In her role as a volunteer, Dean has deployed to Oregon to support wildfire relief efforts. Closer to home, she’s also assisted with flu clinics at health fairs on Catalina Island and Long Beach.

In Oregon, Dean supported people displaced from the wildfires staying in three hotels. Her work including helping with a wide range of medical needs, such as handing out band aids, arranging for special diets, getting necessary medication or replacing vital medical equipment, and referring people in need for a higher level of care.

Dean gets immense pleasure from assisting others. “I'm grateful for the opportunity to volunteer with this [Red Cross] organization and be able to make a difference in someone's life,” she said.

Lynn Mason, Glen Burnie, Maryland

Lynn Mason has been a part of the Red Cross family since she was a teenager. She started volunteering as a teen as a candy striper for the Red Cross. Later, she became a blood donor. Then, she met her chapter's former executive director, and worked her way to becoming the board chairwoman for Southern Maryland Chapter's Biomed Committee. Mason helps to recruit corporate sponsors for Red Cross blood drives.

Mason says she is honored to be part of the Red Cross family. "I am so grateful to be part of an organization with so many committed and compassionate volunteers," she stated.

Mason's fondest memories revolve around hosting a successful blood drive despite severe winter weather. Blood drives are vitally important to providing lifesaving blood products to hospitals year-round. Mason remarked that although "it was sleeting and snowing that day, the workers, volunteers and donors rallied to make it a very successful event."

VOLUNTEER TODAY The need for volunteers has never been greater as larger and more intense disasters happen across the country due to our changing climate. With 2022 looking to be a very active disaster year, the Red Cross has a critical need to fill vital volunteer positions.

Becoming a volunteer with the Red Cross isn’t just about giving back to your community. It’s also about learning new skills, making lifelong friends and being a part of the world’s biggest humanitarian network striving to alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. Turn tragedy into hope by donating your time and skills. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to get started today.