Volunteer Opportunities in Kentucky

Volunteer in the Kentucky Region

Become a Volunteer Today

Volunteer Opportunities

From serving meals to disaster victims to helping with blood drives, volunteers contribute throughout our community. Our volunteers teach CPR and help soldiers arrange travel home for the birth of a child. They help us prepare for disaster and recover from the aftermath.

Volunteers carry out 90% of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross.

American Red Cross Volunteer courier, Leo Ball delivers blood products to a hospital in Salt Lake City, Utah.

Volunteers Needed!

Learn about our highest-priority positions and how you can make a difference!

Blood Collection Support: Join a lifesaving team to help support blood collections in your community. Click "Apply Now," then search for “Blood” or “Biomed” in the search bar to find positions.

Disaster Action Team: You can be part of a team that helps people who are forced from their homes due to fires, storms and other disasters. Click "Apply Now," then search for “DAT” or “Disaster Action Team” in the search bar to find positions.

_{Please note that positions will vary by location.}

APPLY NOW

If you are already a Red Cross volunteer, log in to Volunteer Connection to access volunteer opportunities, sign up for shifts, log hours, or access local volunteering information.

Our Opportunities

Across the country over 95% of all Red Cross staff are volunteers. Below are a few ways that you can join our team and give back to our community.

Disaster Action Team Member

The Disaster Action Team supports the Red Cross mission and assists during disaster incidents that require an immediate response. Our Disaster Action Team primarily responds to single-family and multi-family house and apartment fires, and is scheduled for a period of on-call status.

Disaster Response Volunteer

The Disaster Response Volunteer supports the Red Cross mission and assists during large-scale disaster incidents. This volunteer takes training in over 30 distinct activities to join our Disaster Workforce and help our community respond and recover. National deployment opportunities are also available after training and local experience is acquired.

Blood Services Volunteer

The Blood Services Volunteer supports the Red Cross mission by assisting at fixed donation sites or at mobile blood drives with key aspects of the donation process, including registration and donor care in our canteen.

Administrative Assistant

The Administrative Assistant Volunteer supports the Red Cross mission by aiding in the office administration of various departments, including answering phones, greeting members of the public, general office filing and upkeep of office records, checking invoices, copying, faxing, and shredding.

Special Event Volunteer

The Special Event volunteer supports the Red Cross mission by assisting with fundraisers, community celebrations, or other one-time/recurring major events for the American Red Cross.

Disaster Education Team Member

The Disaster Education Team Member supports the Red Cross mission by identifying opportunities to train our community to be more disaster resilient and carrying out presentations to small and large groups.

CPR/First Aid Instructor

The CPR/First Aid Instructor supports the Red Cross mission by training our community in the life-saving skills of CPR/First Aid. Basic CPR/First Aid certification is required before going through Instructor training.

Youth Services Volunteer

Youth of all ages connect with the Red Cross mission as Disaster Relief workers, safety presenters, ambassadors, and more!

Pet Therapy Program (Clark County in Indiana and Ft. Knox area in Kentucky)

The Pet Therapy program is available at the Clark County service site located in Jeffersonville, Indiana and the Ft. Knox service site in Kentucky. Our primary focus is to provide comfort and companionship to our community by sharing our dogs with residents and patients. Volunteer owners and pets visit nursing homes, hospitals, wounded warrior recovery units, and more. Training is required for pets.

Crossing Generations (Louisville Area Chapter only)

Crossing Generations is a self-governing society that engages young professionals in the mission of the American Red Cross and provides fulfilling opportunities for personal and professional networking and development in order to empower future leaders of the American Red Cross.

Ft. Knox Service Center

The Ft. Knox Service Center of the South Central Kentucky Chapter has numerous opportunities, including military casework, community programs like Pet Therapy, Helping Hands and Santa’s Workshop, medical facility roles at Ireland Army Hospital, and more.

Service to the Armed Forces Emergency Services Call Center

SAF Call Center Caseworkers interact with military families needing to communicate with their loved ones on active duty. Training is required, and duties include initial phone intake and case generation, incident verification, and message delivery. This center is located at the Louisville Area Chapter, and is one of four centers around the country that provides worldwide coverage.

Volunteer FAQs

I have questions about...

How can I volunteer for disaster relief efforts?

The first step to becoming a Red Cross Disaster Responder is to apply using our volunteer management system Volunteer Connection. You will be required to create a profile which takes less than 5 minutes and submit your volunteer application through the system. You will also be required to submit a background check. Upon receipt of your background check and application, you will be contacted by a recruiter to discuss next steps.

How do I start the process of becoming a volunteer

The first step to becoming a Red Cross volunteer is to apply using our volunteer management system Volunteer Connection. You will be required to create a profile and complete the intake steps. Link to application above.

What is the time commitment required to volunteer?

Time commitments vary according to the area in which you choose to volunteer. The specifics will be discussed with you by a recruiter once your application and background check are received in Volunteer Connection, our volunteer management system.

Can I volunteer for disaster relief operations nationally?

Yes, although you must have experience with disaster response as a local Red Cross volunteer. To acquire that experience, you must register, train and serve with your local chapter. There is no better time than now to start, so complete an application today!

Can I volunteer for disaster relief operations outside of the United States?

Typically, there are very few volunteers deployed internationally and they are specially trained to manage international emergency operations. Please consider supporting our community’s local needs by volunteering with the Kentuckiana Region of the American Red Cross.

Where can I learn more about how to help?

Basic information about the American Red Cross and volunteer service can be found on the Volunteer page. If you have additional questions, please call your local chapter.

How do I choose which volunteer opportunity is right for me?

Consider your schedule, how much time you are interested in dedicating your skills and talents, and where you are willing to volunteer. Once you have completed the application process and background check, a volunteer recruiter will contact you to discuss volunteer opportunities and together you will determine a match.