LOS ANGELES, April 18, 2022 — It’s National Volunteer Week and the American Red Cross Los Angeles Region recognizes the nearly 8,000 Angelenos who selflessly give their time to help people in need. They make our humanitarian work possible. Without them we could not achieve our mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies.

Volunteers are the true heart of the Red Cross. They 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; help communities prepare for emergencies around the globe and much more.

“National Volunteer Week is time to honor all of our volunteers, who make up 90% of our workforce, for their constant service and support,” said Joanne Nowlin, CEO for the Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “They are true heroes who generously give their time day and night to help their local community.”

For the past two years while we were all dealing with COVID-19, Red Cross LA volunteers were also answering the call to help those affected by wildfires, tornados, floods and an urgent need for blood. Red Cross volunteers were there each step of the way to provide relief and recovery, but also to prepare communities and partners for the future. In Los Angeles alone, dozens of volunteers deployed to all corners of the nation while still responding to more than 350 local home fires.

TOP 3 MOST NEEDED VOLUNTEER POSITIONS

The need for volunteers has never been greater as we experience larger and more intense disasters across the country. Please consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer to help families in need. We’ll provide all of the training you need, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more.

1. Disaster Action Team: While big hurricanes and wildfires get the most news coverage, smaller disasters such as home fires are no less devastating to those affected. That’s why we need volunteers to help comfort and support local families in need by providing food, shelter, clothing or supplies, and connecting families to recovery assistance.
2. Shelter Support Team: During large disasters, these volunteers support the day-to-day activities such as welcoming and registering residents, helping with meal service, distributing cots, blankets and hygiene supplies, and providing information and other assistance within a shelter. If the need arises, volunteers are asked to commit to multiple local shifts of 4-12 hours each. For those able to travel, a commitment of at least 14 consecutive days, working 8- or 12-hour shifts is required.
3. Disaster Health Services Team: These volunteers use their professional skills as a licensed healthcare provider to deliver hands on care and education to shelter residents during a large disaster. Our free online training can count towards nursing continuing education units. If the need arises, volunteers are asked to commit to multiple local shifts of 4-12 hours each. For those able to travel, a commitment of at least 10-14 consecutive days, working 8- or 12-hour shifts is required. Qualified licenses include RN, LPN, LVN, EMT, Paramedic, MD, DO, PA, NP, APRN. Only RNs have full scope of practice.

Just as disasters happen every day, the need for blood is constant. The Red Cross is also recruiting for critical volunteers to support our work to ensure hospital patients have access to safe, lifesaving blood.

You can help save countless lives as a Blood Donor Ambassador. These volunteers check blood donors into their appointments, answer questions and give out post donation snacks. Got a bit more time? How about joining the team of volunteers who drive the blood from donors to the patients in hospitals? Transportation Specialists support hospital patients by delivering blood from Red Cross facilities to local hospitals.

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/la or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on Twitter at @RedCrossLA or @CruzRojaLA.