Volunteer Opportunities in Greater New York

Volunteer

Sleeves Up. Hearts Open. All In.

If you’re passionate about helping people and looking for a volunteer career with a visionary humanitarian organization, you can make a difference with the American Red Cross.

Red Cross values provide the foundation for the high standards to which we hold ourselves in our daily interactions with those inside and outside the organization.

We are:

Compassionate. We are dedicated to improving the lives of those we serve and to treating each other with care and respect.
Collaborative. We work together as One Red Cross family, in partnership with other organizations, and embrace diversity and inclusiveness.
Creative. We seek new ideas, are open to change and always look for better ways to serve those in need.
Credible. We act with integrity, are transparent guardians of the public trust and honor our promises.
Committed. We hold ourselves accountable for defining and meeting clear objectives, delivering on our mission and being careful stewards our donor dollars.

Red Cross volunteers are ordinary individuals who are empowered to do extraordinary things.

Take the first step to becoming a volunteer with the American Red Cross Greater New York Region by clicking on one of the links below.

Most-Needed Volunteers: Disaster Health Services Associates and Supervisors

Are you a licensed health care professional? Get prepared now to help people in disaster shelters.

We need volunteers who can work in emergency shelters to help assess people’s health and provide hands-on care in alignment with their professional licensure (RN and LPN/LVN). We also need volunteers who can provide care as delegated by a licensed nurse in shelters; this could include assisting with activities of daily living, personal assistance services, providing health education and helping to replace medications, durable medical equipment or consumable medical supplies.

Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available. If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with an active, current and unencumbered license, there is a role for you. Ancillary roles are available locally for Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Home Health Aides, student nurses and medical students. RNs supervise all clinical tasks.

Search for “Disaster Health” in the search bar to find positions.

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

Our work is possible because of people like you.

Discover the role that's right for you and join us today!

Or 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.

Internships

The American Red Cross Greater New York Region offers exceptional undergraduate and graduate students an engaging internship experience. Interns are matched with a specific department where they work on advancing critical projects.

Volunteer FAQs

Q. 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.

Q. What is Volunteer Connection?

A. Volunteer Connection serves as the primary Volunteer Management System (VMS) for the American Red Cross. Volunteer Connection provides a robust database solution for volunteer record management, as well as a dedicated volunteer member site that supports group collaboration tools, volunteer hours sign up, and much more.

Q. Why do I need an email to volunteer with the Red Cross?

A. In order to activate your Volunteer Connection account you must have an active email address. If you do not have an email address we encourage you to acquire one from one of the many free services providers.

Q. How old must I be to volunteer with the American Red Cross?

A. To volunteer with disaster services, you must be 18 years old. A variety of opportunities may be available for Youth Volunteers under the age of 18. Please contact your local chapter for more information.

Q. What is the time commitment required to volunteer?

Time commitments vary according to the area in which you choose to volunteer. It can be as little as 4 hours per month to 40+ hours per week. 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.

Q. May I volunteer from home?

A. Our volunteer job opportunities vary which enables some volunteers to work from home or in the field.

Q. I am an existing American Red Cross volunteer. Can I transfer to a different region?

A. Yes, to transfer between regions please complete a volunteer transfer request within Volunteer Connection.

Q. 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!

Q. 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 your community’s needs by volunteering with your local American Red Cross chapter.

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

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. Consider how much time you are interested in dedicating, your skills and talents, where you are willing to volunteer, and what your schedule is.