DENVER, Colo. (Jan. 14, 2026) — The American Red Cross asks you to consider giving the gift of your time this year and resolving to help people in need as a volunteer in Colorado. 

"Our volunteers make up 90% of our work force and are the beating heart and soul of the Red Cross," said Andrea Miller, regional chief executive officer of the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming. "Their support is immeasurable. Their precious gift of time builds our capacity to help people in what can be their darkest hour."

Depending on your interests, the Red Cross offers a variety of volunteer opportunities — from supporting a family after a fire in their home, helping a member of the military during an emergency, or helping us ensure blood is available for patients who need it.

• Disaster Action Team (DAT): Help families in your community after a home fire or other disaster. DAT team members provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover. 
• Hero Care Caseworker: Support members of the military, their families and our veterans. Become a casework volunteer and help provide emergency communications and critical services to military families all over the world. 
• Blood donor ambassadors: Engage with blood donors by greeting them at blood drives, helping them register, answering questions, providing information and assisting them at the refreshments table.
• Blood transportation specialists: Volunteer transportation specialists support hospital patients by delivering blood from our facilities to local hospitals. If you have a little free time, love driving and enjoy meeting new people, the Red Cross has a great volunteer spot waiting for you.

Volunteers come from all walks of life, ready to help their local communities at a moment's notice. 

Myrna Candreia, a volunteer from New Castle, Colo., deployed in response to the Elk and Lee fires during the summer of 2025. Once helped by Red Cross volunteers herself in the aftermath of the 2002 Waldo Canyon Fire, Myrna served as a volunteer in a Red Cross shelter in Craig, Colo., helping those on the Western Slope who found themselves displaced by evacuations.

"I never really thought that much about it but then realized, 'Wow, this is a way to give back,'" Myrna said about her decision to volunteer. "We are now going through trying times with fire, and so I decided it was time to give back to the Red Cross."

She recounted several times where she went to pick up coffee for her fellow volunteers or after ending a shift, people would see her Red Cross shirt and thank her for her service.

"It gives you a sense of how appreciative people can be in the communities you serve," Myrna said. 

For others, the call to service is different, but just as personal.

When Mandie Mercier's son enlisted in the U.S. Army, she went through the Red Cross Military Entrance Processing Command program. Seeing what Red Cross services were available to military families inspired Mandie to volunteer with the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces team.

She is now an SAF caseworker lead and is in the process of training to be a caseworker for Restoring Family Links, connecting family members internationally with loved ones affected by uprising or natural disasters.

As an immigrant from South Africa, Mandie feels a strong affinity to this work, as well. 

"Red Cross gives as much back to me as I contribute. They make it easy for me to volunteer because it is all done remotely from my home in the mountains," Mandie said. "I've made many friends of other Red Cross volunteers and I feel such an affinity with the military families I help."

The need to help has never been greater. Join us to provide relief and hope when it matters most. Visit redcross.org/volunteer and get started today. 

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 or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.