By Joe Gutierrez, American Red Cross volunteer

At the start of his sophomore year at the eSTEM Academy at Eleanor Roosevelt High School in Eastvale, Srinivasan Harini Sudharsan went to an American Red Cross club meeting. A friend had shared stories about her positive experiences with the nonprofit, inspiring him to give it a try.

Srinivasan went to a Red Cross club meeting at school “and loved the process, became a volunteer and joined the (Red Cross) Youth Leadership Council for Riverside and San Bernardino counties. After that I became president of my school club and stepped up to the (Riverside) county Youth Advisory Council,” he said.

His dedication and work led to Srinivasan being praised by fellow Red Cross members, as well as to him being named the Riverside County Volunteer of the Month for October. He is in the 11th grade and will be graduating in 2028.

In announcing the honor, team members wrote, “Srinivasan dedicates an incredible 25 hours each week to supporting programs and making a meaningful difference in his community. He consistently arrives early, ready to help wherever he is needed, whether setting up events on short notice, assisting with behind-the-scenes tasks, or welcoming youth participants and staff with a warm smile.”

They applauded him for his kindness, dependability, and willingness to step in, which has made him an invaluable member of the Youth Services team. They wrote, “He approaches every task, big or small, with enthusiasm and care, while treating everyone he meets with warmth and respect.”

Srinivasan, who plans to go to medical school with the goal of becoming a doctor, said he is a good fit for the Red Cross because as a leader in his school’s Health Occupations Students of America group and president of the school’s Red Cross club, he is used to organizing projects and collaborating with teams.

“I'm also interested in going into medicine, and the Red Cross fits that goal of helping people,” he added.

His activities with the Red Cross at school include planning meetings and events, and recruiting new members. On the Riverside County Youth Advisory Council, he is the Special Events Lead, and helps plan many county events, including gift meetings at the county offices.

“I’m also involved in local county events, including real field events like Sound the Alarm, and I did outreach to about 28 inactive clubs across the Riverside region to help get them active again,” he said.

His motivation to stay involved is that there is always a new way to help. He started as a club member, then moved up to the Youth Advisory Council, and now leads events.

“Every step gave me more responsibility and more ways to make a difference in my community, so I never feel like I'm done,” Srinivasan said. “Seeing the impact I have on people and knowing my work reaches someone is what keeps me showing up.”

His "Red Cross moment” came in getting advanced to the Youth Advisory Council.

“It meant I could do more for my county, not just my school,” Srinivasan said. “I got to be part of the planning process for meetings and themes from the start, then watch them come to life with my support. That's when I knew I was with the right organization.”

For Srinivasan, the best thing about volunteering for the Red Cross is seeing the difference he makes in people’s lives. “Whether I'm informing my school club or helping people in the field, I know the work ends up helping someone, and that makes it worth it,” he said.

His message for fellow Red Cross volunteers is to thank them for showing up.

“Even the small events matter to someone, and it all adds up,” Srinivasan said. “Keep going, and bring a friend, because that's how I got started.”

And his message to potential Red Cross volunteers is simple: go to a meeting.

“That's all I did, and it led to running my school club and serving on a county council,” he said. “You don't need experience, just curiosity and a willingness to show up.”