As the time for making New Year’s resolutions grows closer, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region 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 due to the climate crisis,” said Jennifer Graham, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania regional CEO. “Across the country, 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.”

Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to sign up for opportunities with the Red Cross in Southeastern Pennsylvania. You can help people here in Greater Philadelphia or you can sign up to support disaster victims in other parts of the country.

HOW TO HELP

Locally, more than 2,000 people volunteer with the Red Cross. In the last year, they responded to more than 800 local disasters, installed nearly 2,900 free smoke alarms, taught preparedness skills to more than 2,800 children and their families, provided more than 2,400 services for military members, veterans and their families and helped deliver over 101,000 units of donated blood.   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:

• Disaster Action Team: Most of the 60,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are smaller disasters like home fires and these are no less devastating to the families affected. As a Disaster Action Team volunteer, you can help comfort and support people in your community by meeting any immediate needs such as food, shelter, clothing or supplies and connecting them to long term recovery services. We supply all the training you need. 
• Disaster Response Duty Officers: Duty Officers volunteer from home to dispatch Disaster Action Team volunteers to meet with families impacted by home fires and other disasters so they can provide temporary relief such as a safe place to stay, food and clothing.

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.

• Blood Donor Ambassador: Volunteer Blood Donor Ambassadors ensure that blood donors have a pleasant and fulfilling experience, from the moment they arrive to the moment they leave. They greet donors, answer questions and thank them for their donation. Currently, there is a specific need for Blood Donor Ambassadors in Philadelphia County.
• Blood Transportation Specialist: Volunteer Blood Transportation Specialists help deliver blood from our collection sites throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to our lab in Philadelphia for testing and processing and/or deliver blood products from our lab to hospitals in the area using a Red Cross-owned vehicle.

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 in Southeastern Pennsylvania. Your time and talent can make a real difference in people’s lives.