By Scott Marder | American Red Cross

When disaster strikes, the American Red Cross is there, thanks to volunteers who raise their hand, pack their bags and deploy to help communities in crisis.

You don’t need prior experience. You don’t need special training. You just need the heart to help. The Red Cross will prepare you for everything else.

Just ask Meaghan Eicher, a new Red Cross volunteer who deployed to her first disaster just weeks after signing up. What she found gave her renewed purpose and allowed her to make a meaningful impact on the lives of others.

“There are so many people out there who need help,” Meaghan said. “And you really can make a difference.”

No Experience? No Problem.

Like many new volunteers, Meaghan wasn’t sure how she could contribute at first. But she quickly discovered how accessible and thorough the Red Cross training is.

“I signed up for four different roles and just got right on the trainings,” she said. “I was very impressed by all the numbers of trainings they have, online. The quality, the content, just everything. It was so, so, so impressive.”

From sheltering and feeding to logistics and warehouse support, volunteers are needed in every part of a disaster response. With encouragement from Red Cross staff and volunteers, Meaghan embraced the opportunity and prepared to deploy.

“I told them I just want to get out there,” she said.

Deployments Change Lives – Including Yours

Soon after completing her initial training, Meaghan was on a plane to St. Louis to support relief efforts following a devastating tornado. She worked on the fulfillment team, helping at a warehouse and delivering supplies to emergency shelters. The experience left a lasting impression.

One moment stood out. As she and her team were loading a truck outside a Walmart, a woman approached her.

“She told me her home had been destroyed. She had just gotten a new dog and didn’t know what would happen to it. She said the Red Cross saved her life and gave her hope, gave her a light in a very, very tough situation.”

That moment stayed with Meaghan.

“She didn’t know me. She didn’t know my team members. But she recognized the vest we were wearing,” she said. “Just knowing we had that collective impact in the community; that was powerful.”

Still Not Sure You’re the Right Fit?

Many potential volunteers hesitate to deploy because they think they don’t have the right background or training. But the Red Cross is built on people from all walks of life. You don’t have to be an expert or have any experience to make a difference.

“I had no disaster experience. I just knew I wanted to help,” Meaghan said. “And now I’ve learned skills I never imagined, like driving a forklift!”

More important than any technical skill is the desire to show up and serve.

“You’ll get to do something you’ve never done before,” she said. “And you’ll feel that sense of purpose giving back to the community, whether it’s talking to someone at a shelter, helping serve a meal or encouraging someone to get involved themselves.”

A Path to Purpose

When Meaghan’s career path changed unexpectedly earlier this year, she felt uncertain about the future.

“I didn’t have a mission. I didn’t have a way forward,” she said. “But finding the Red Cross really brought joy back into my life. It brought that spark. For the first time in a while, I really feel like I have a direction again.”

Now, she’s signed up for four different disaster roles and is eager to deploy again, hoping to be one of the first responders on the ground. “I’m very excited to get out there again,” she said. “I want to help set the way for the volunteers who come after me.”

She also plans to explore other opportunities, like blood delivery and supporting service members and their families.

“The Red Cross has so many different opportunities. I’m looking forward to growing more with the organization.”

Ready to make a difference?

“You’ll get to do something you’ve never done before,” Meaghan said. “And you’ll feel that sense of purpose giving back to the community.”

Thousands of people across the country need help after disasters. With the right training, support and encouragement, you can be the one who shows up.

Don’t wait to be ready. Just be willing.

Visit RedCross.org/Volunteer to find your place on the team.