Red Cross Volunteers ─ Who Are They? How Do I Join?

American Red Cross volunteers ─ who are they? Where are they from? What do they do? How can I become a volunteer?

Volunteers make up 90% of our workforce, powering our humanitarian mission every day. Whether responding to disasters at home or around the globe, teaching lifesaving skills, supporting military families, or helping patients in need of blood, their impact is profound. Read on to learn more about these wonderful people who give their time and talent to help others in need.

WHO ARE OUR VOLUNTEERS?

At the American Red Cross, our volunteers are not just helpers, they are the heartbeat of our mission. From youth leaders to seasoned professionals, there are more than 300,000 individuals who come together to transform moments of crisis into moments of hope. Our Red Crossers bring a wide array of cultures, ethnic backgrounds, ages, gender identities, lifestyles and beliefs to our volunteer workforce. 

LEARNED INVALUABLE LESSONS Volunteers are folks like Brenda Bridges, a 10-year volunteer from the San Bernardino Chapter in California, whose deployment to Alaska last year is something she will never forget.

Brenda spent three weeks in Alaska, helping evacuees forced from their homes by Typhoon Halong. Many were members of the Yup’ik tribe, airlifted to Anchorage, hundreds of miles from their ancestral homes and traditions.

Brenda was asked to take over shelter operations at the Alaska Airlines Center as a Shelter Site Manager. “We were tasked with providing a good hello and preparing to register approximately 296 residents of Kipnuk into the shelter,” Brenda said. “When the residents arrived, it was a little overwhelming, especially since these residents had traveled more than 500 miles in a military cargo plane from their remote village with very few belongings.”

The priority for the Red Cross staff was gaining the trust of the evacuees and making them feel safe. As a Red Cross volunteer, Brenda said she learned invaluable lessons in leadership, empathy and community resilience. “This experience strengthened my commitment to serving others and reinforced my belief in the potential for positive change, even in the most difficult situations,” Brenda said.

“Managing the shelter in Alaska was more than just a job — it was a calling that pushed me to grow and motivated me to make a difference," she said. "I hope that, as a Red Cross volunteer, I was able to make a lasting positive impact on the community in Anchorage, and the residents of Kipnuk, especially during what was, for many, one of the most challenging disasters they had ever faced.”

WHERE ARE RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS FROM?

Our volunteers hail from just about everywhere, from our country’s small towns to its largest cities. Whether their neighborhood is urban or rural, their vision is the same, to provide support and comfort when needed. Their diversity reflects all the communities we serve, making a difference across the country.

WHAT DO RED CROSS VOLUNTEERS DO?

Each day, our volunteers support blood drives, assist the military, veterans and military families and provide food and shelter after disasters of all sizes. They teach lifesaving classes like First Aid and CPR and help restore order in other countries through programs such as Restoring Family Links and International Humanitarian Law. Our volunteer opportunities match a wide range of interests and time commitment.

HOW CAN I BECOME A VOLUNTEER?

You can start here, researching the different volunteer roles available. Right now, it is critical that we find people interested in these roles:

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 here

SHELTER RESIDENT TRANSITION ASSOCIATE The Shelter Resident Transition (SRT) Service Associate (SA) is part of the response to a larger disaster. These caseworkers work with shelter residents to help them create an action plan so that they can transition from the shelter to a more sustainable living solution. This transitioning helps jumpstart their recovery.

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.

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.

Learn more here about what our volunteers achieved in FY 2025.

Join our team of changemakers working together to make an impact. Every contribution matters — find the best way for you to get involved. Sign up here today and be part of the solution.