Resolve to Make a Difference in 2026 ─ Help People in Need as a Red Cross Volunteer

man in Red Cross shirt in blood distribution center getting order of boxes of blood products ready to deliver to hospitals.

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North Carolina resident Jamie Daniel gives his time delivering lifesaving blood products to area hospitals, "Serving in a critical role and delivering blood every day gives me the incredible feeling of knowing I'm saving lives,” he said. “It's truly rewarding to help my community in such a meaningful way."

woman in Red Cross shirt standing outside van packed with blood products ready to be delivered to hospitals.

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Dorothy Miller, North Carolina, volunteers as a blood transportation specialist, delivering blood products to hospitals in her region. “I feel fulfilled. I wanted to give back more to my community and support the Mission,” she said. “My time and effort are what could help transport life-saving blood products to people in who need it the most”

two women sit at a table wearing Red Cross stickers

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Kytztlaly Galvan, a student at Cal State Long Beach, holds down the fort as a blood drive ambassador at a blood drive at Hubble Studios in Los Angeles. She eventually wants to go into nursing and volunteered to gain experience and to give back.

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Blood Donor Ambassadors help ensure every blood donor has a positive experience from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. Here, Sickle Cell Warrior Dima Hendricks thanks platelet donor George Bradley at the Dedham Massachusetts Red Cross Donor Center refreshments area.

December 29, 2025

2026 is almost here, a time when many of us are thinking about how to do something meaningful in the New Year. Resolve to make a difference in 2026 by becoming an American Red Cross volunteer.

Volunteers are the true heart of the Red Cross—making up 90% of our workforce and powering our humanitarian mission every day. Whether responding to disasters, teaching lifesaving skills, supporting military families, or helping patients in need of blood, their impact is profound. Join a team of changemakers working together to make an impact. Sign up here and be part of the solution.

HELP HOSPITAL PATIENTS

BLOOD TRANSPORTATION SPECIALISTS Our Blood Transportation Specialists bring lifesaving blood and blood products to local hospitals within their region. They choose when they want to help with either scheduled shifts or our on-demand opportunities. As an on-demand volunteer you can choose shifts that fit your schedule. You will receive real-time alerts when hospitals have a critical request for urgently needed blood and be on your way to the distribution site within 30-120 minutes. Your time driving could be the difference in helping save a patient’s life. Find more information here.

BLOOD DONOR AMBASSADOR If you enjoy connecting with people, consider becoming a Blood Donor Ambassador ─ a role that makes a real difference in your community. Ambassadors help ensure every blood donor has a positive experience from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. You’ll greet donors, assist with registration, answer questions, share helpful information and offer refreshments after their donation. Whether you volunteer regularly or occasionally is up to you. Learn more here.

BE THE CALM DURING A DISASTER

DISASTER ACTION TEAM Every year, the Red Cross responds to over 65,000 emergencies and the vast majority of these are local, personal crises like home fires. These events may not make headlines, but they shatter lives. For more than 60 years, our Disaster Action Team volunteers have been ready 24/7, 365 days a year — to deliver immediate relief, emotional support, and long-term recovery resources. When disaster strikes, we make sure families never face it alone. Learn more

Duty Officer -As a Duty Officer, you’ll be the vital link between disaster responders and those in need — dispatching volunteers to scenes like home fires and floods, all from the comfort of your own home. This is a remote, on-call role that keeps our disaster response program running smoothly. You’ll coordinate with field teams, emergency partners and staff to ensure fast, effective help reaches those affected by disaster. Learn more here.

JOIN US Your time and talents can drive our lifesaving mission forward. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday and get started on what will be one of the most rewarding experiences of your life.

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.