Amarjot enjoys a sunset view of the bay and Golden Gate Bridge.
Written By: Amarjot Toor
Growing up in the small town of Jagraon in Punjab, India, Amarjot Toor witnessed firsthand what it means to live without access to basic healthcare. In his rural neighborhood, a doctor’s visit was a luxury many families couldn’t afford. People often turned to home remedies or simply endured their suffering in silence. Conditions like Alzheimer’s, which touched Amarjot’s own family, were deeply misunderstood, mislabeled as superstition or dismissed entirely. There were no local specialists, no awareness campaigns, and no lifelines for those silently struggling.
These early experiences left a mark that wouldn’t fade. When Amarjot moved to the United States in 2017 as a 6th grader, he carried those memories with him. In 8th grade, during a visit to a Red Cross blood drive in Vacaville, something shifted. He saw how a single unit of donated blood could save lives. He watched how people came together to support strangers they’d never meet. For Amarjot, it sparked a powerful realization: that humanitarian service could make a difference—and that he wanted to be a part of it.
“Now, I have a chance to be part of something that does more than just raise awareness, it saves lives.”
Today, Amarjot is a dedicated American Red Cross youth volunteer in the Northern California Coastal Region, where he serves as the Blood Services Coordinator for the Red Cross Club at American Canyon High School. In this role, he helps spread awareness about blood donation and builds a culture of service among his peers. He also serves as a Lead Advocate for the International Humanitarian Law (IHL) Youth Action Campaign, using his voice to educate others about global health inequities and the importance of humanitarian principles in times of crisis.
Amarjot’s experiences have shaped his ambition to become a neurologist, with a minor in psychology, so he can work to close the healthcare gaps that once surrounded him.
“I still think about the families back home who had nowhere to turn,” Amarjot shares. “Now, I have a chance to be part of something that does more than just raise awareness, it saves lives.”
His message to others is simple but powerful: If you care about making a difference, start by volunteering. The Red Cross gave him the tools to turn compassion into action—and it can do the same for you.
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