This Valentine’s Day, you and your sweetheart can give each other the gift that helps others: Become a Red Cross volunteer.

“Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Red Cross,” said Louise Welch Williams, CEO for the Red Cross in South Carolina.

The love you share can be shared with your community, particularly with those in need. The South Carolina Red Cross has several ways that you can volunteer together and help your neighbors.

Sheltering

Help create a home away from home by volunteering as a shelter team. During disasters, the Red Cross and its partners open shelters to make sure people have a safe place to stay, a hot meal and access to other support from trained volunteers.

Disaster Action Team

Volunteers with the Disaster Action Team respond to the scene of disasters, such as home fires, and help provide resources, referrals to further assistance and emotional support to those affected, ensuring they have food, shelter, clothing and a sense of hope. 

Biomed Transportation

Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. As volunteer transportation specialists, you and your sweetheart will deliver lifesaving blood to hospitals, ultimately helping save patient lives.

“Share your love with your community,” Williams said. “Contact us about volunteering.”

Those interested in volunteering should visit www.redcross.org/sc to start their volunteer application.

Volunteers make up more than 90 percent of the Red Cross workforce. These volunteers represent a variety of backgrounds and receive free training. Volunteers with the Red Cross can set flexible schedules in volunteer positions that appeal to their specific skills or interests.