Media Contact:
Christine Welch, Communications Director
Email: christine.welch@redcross.org
Phone: 909-374-0376                                                                           

A Top New Year’s Resolution: Volunteer to Help Your Neighbor

American Red Cross of Orange County sees increased need for emergency support during COVID-19

Orange County, CALIF. —  January 19, 2021 —  As the New Year brings the tradition of resolutions, consider helping people in need as a Red Cross volunteer in Orange County.

During the coronavirus pandemic, families continue to depend on local volunteers every day for emergency support, including assistance after local disasters, help for military service members and their families, providing lifesaving blood to local hospitals, and so much more.

“Just knowing that someone is there to lend a helping hand during these trying times provides a light of hope for our neighbors,” said Becky Firey, Executive Director of the American Red Cross of Orange County. “Please join us by resolving to help as a Red Cross volunteer and ensure no one faces life’s emergencies alone.”

HOW TO HELP The need for volunteers is constant, and everyone’s well-being is top priority as the Red Cross works with public health officials to safely deliver services during COVID-19. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including most-needed positions:

• Blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists: Blood donations are essential to the health of our communities, and blood donor ambassadors are a vital part of this work by welcoming visitors and taking their temperatures before entering Red Cross facilities and blood drives. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, training course participants, and Red Cross employees and volunteers. We also have a high-priority need for transportation specialists to help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals.
  
• Disaster response volunteers: You can be part of a team that helps and responds to hundreds of local emergencies every year. In addition to wildfires, floods and other disasters, the American Red Cross of Orange County responds to home fires, which can destroy nearly everything a family owns in a matter of minutes. Partnering with local fire departments, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers connect with families by video or phone call to provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover. From offering a caring and compassionate ear, to meeting the disaster-caused needs of individuals and households, such as lodging and clothing, and connecting them with long term recovery services, our volunteers ensure that families have the help and support they need after disasters. 

For more information about the American Red Cross Southern California Region, please visit redcross.org/socal.

About the American Red Cross Southern California Region  
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid, and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the public to perform its mission. The Red Cross Southern California Region proudly serves San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Imperial Counties. In addition to carrying out disaster preparedness and response programs, blood collection, health and safety training, international services programs and supporting the military community, the Southern California Region provides nutritional counseling through its Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program in San Diego and helps communities prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters through its Prepare SoCal and Prepare San Diego initiatives. For more information, please visit redcross.org/SoCal or cruzrojaamericana.org, or connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube. 

###