By Stephanie Babyak, Red Cross volunteer

For those of you who are wondering, yes, there’s still time to make a New Year’s resolution for 2023! If you are seeking to experience something different and challenging, why not consider an opportunity that is exciting, gratifying, and can help ease the suffering of others?  This year, resolve to volunteer with the American Red Cross. 

Representing more than 90% of the Red Cross workforce, volunteers are the backbone of lifesaving service delivery in local communities. Maryland residents Ben Emesowum and Alexiana Bernard, both Disaster Action Team (DAT) members, volunteer with their local Red Cross—the Central Maryland Chapter of the National Capital & Greater Chesapeake Region. 

During the pandemic, Ben volunteered remotely gathering information from families following a disaster to help determine what their needs were, where they could stay, and other “intake” assistance.  However, once vaccinated, he decided to contribute and help his neighbors “to go into the community to find a way to help.”  Last winter, Ben assisted in-person after a home fire in Baltimore displaced  several families.

 “I wanted to lend a helping hand to get people on their feet,” said Ben.

Baltimore-area resident, Alexiana Bernard has been volunteering with the Red Cross for the past six months.  As a full-time nursing student, her program required community service.  However, she wanted to continue volunteering long-term, so she searched for a program she could commit to.  The flexibility of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team allows her to volunteer in her free time – around 12 hours a month.

As a new volunteer, Alexiana said she was nervous on her first disaster response.  However, she had received extensive training to prepare her, and she was always partnered with another more experienced DAT team member. 

Alexiana says she feels supported by her Disaster Program Manager, Isiah Bullock of the Central Maryland Chapter.  She has been able to go to him with questions and he checks in frequently when she is assisting with a disaster response—support she calls “critical” to helping her do her job well and feeling safe throughout an assignment.

Like Ben, Alexiana’s job is to conduct intake interviews with families asking questions to determine the extent of the disaster’s impact. 

“It’s an absolutely awesome feeling, to help those during what may be the worst time in their lives,” said Alexiana.

To explore volunteer opportunities, go to RedCross.org/volunteer. The Red Cross online questionnaire will filter volunteer positions to match your interests and schedule. For example, positions range from Blood Donor Ambassadors - who greet and register blood donors at local blood drives; to Shelter Managers - who oversee emergency shelters and staff during a large-scale disaster response.

Both Ben and Alexiana call volunteering with the Red Cross a positive experience that gives them the chance to give back to their communities and offer help when their neighbors need it most.

This new year, resolve to volunteer with the American Red Cross and become a part of Ben and Alexiana’s team!