Story told by Acacia Cameron, Red Cross Volunteer

As the American Red Cross kicks off National Volunteer Week, the Red Cross honors the true lifeblood of our organization, our volunteers, who make our humanitarian mission possible every day.

For Dan Halyburton, that truth has been lived out for more than 14 years.

“When I first got involved, I had a job that wasn’t as fulfilling as I wanted it to be,” Dan shared. “I stumbled upon the Red Cross, and it changed everything.”

Dan has been involved in radio since his high school and college days. Now serving as a communications volunteer in Greenville, South Carolina, after decades of similar work in North Texas, Dan brings a lifetime of storytelling experience to the organization. A former radio executive and member of both the Texas Radio Hall of Fame and Country Radio Hall of Fame, he understands the power of connection. Still, he says, nothing compares to what he’s found through volunteering.

“I love working as a team member. It fulfills something really special,” he said.

That sense of purpose is something more than 325,000 Red Cross volunteers experience every day. Across the country- and around the world- volunteers support blood drives, respond to disasters, assist military families, and teach lifesaving skills. In fact, Red Cross volunteers make up about 90% of the organization’s workforce, delivering care and hope when it’s needed most.

For Dan, some of the most meaningful moments have come in the midst of disaster response.

“One of the most memorable things I have ever done in my life is joining the Red Cross,” he said. “It is an incredible honor to be called to disasters across the country. You meet the most wonderful people in those moments, and that means a lot to me.”

National Volunteer Week is not only a time to recognize those moments, but also to highlight the collective impact. In the past year alone, tens of thousands of volunteers provided comfort and care to families affected by disasters, contributed over a million hours to support blood collection, and served veterans, military members, and their families in times of need.

What makes the Red Cross unique, Dan says, is not just the scale of the work, but how it welcomes people into it. “That is the great thing about the Red Cross. They take people who are ready to give and show them how. They show them the ropes,” he explained.

From Disaster Action Team members responding to local home fires, to Blood Donor Ambassadors creating a welcoming experience for donors, to volunteers working behind the scenes translating critical materials, there is no single path to making an impact.

That accessibility is exactly what Dan hopes more people will understand.

“I say this to everyone: come in and be part of it today,” he said. “Don’t worry about your time constraints. It’s a place where you can come and be a part of it, and they will be grateful for any time you give.”

As communities continue to face both everyday emergencies and large-scale disasters, the need for volunteers remains constant. But so does the opportunity to step into something meaningful, to connect, and to make a difference.

Volunteering with the Red Cross isn’t just about helping others; it’s about being part of something bigger than yourself.

We invite you to join us. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to get started today.