As the time for making New Year’s resolutions grows closer, the American Red Cross asks you resolve to make a difference and support your community by becoming a volunteer in 2024.
“We’re seeing both the frequency and intensity of disasters increase across the country and the Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters as we did a decade ago to help people. This uptick in responses means we need more volunteers. The need to help has never been greater,” said Mark Thomas, Interim CEO of the Illinois Red Cross.
Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to sign up for opportunities with the Red Cross. You can help people here in your community or you can sign up to support disaster victims in other parts of the country.
HOW TO HELP Locally, more than 4,000 people volunteer with the Red Cross. In the last year, they responded to more than 1,800 disasters. Our local volunteers are part of the almost 275,000 volunteers across the country whose support enables the Red Cross to provide relief and comfort for disaster victims, lifesaving blood products for patients, emergency support for military families and veterans, and much more. Please resolve to help by volunteering in 2024.
DISASTER VOLUNTEERS ─ Some of our most needed disaster-related volunteer roles include:
BIOMEDICAL SERVICES ─ The Red Cross helps to supply about 40% of the nation’s blood, and we depend on volunteers to help ensure patients have access to this lifesaving gift.
HOME FIRE RESPONSE Over the past week, local Red Cross volunteers responded to help 13 people, including two children, in Brimfield, Peoria, and Champaign affected by four home fires, which account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country. Red Cross volunteers provided items to meet immediate needs after a fire and additional support in the form of shelter, health and mental health services and one-on-one support.
Our volunteers are at the heart of our mission and represent 90% of the Red Cross workforce. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to sign up for opportunities with the Red Cross. Your time and talent can make a real difference in people's lives.
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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
# # #