In the midst of this extremely active wildfire and hurricane season, right now as many as 3,000 American Red Cross volunteers are helping the thousands of people affected across the country.

The Red Cross depends on dedicated volunteers to help us support people impacted by emergencies and with the current disasters and the complexities of COVID-19, more help is needed now.

Over the past month, dozens of Red Cross of South Carolina volunteers have deployed, to support on the ground recovery efforts, in the Gulf and out West. While the need for volunteers to work on the ground and be physically present is needed, there are also opportunities to virtually volunteer.

“I have been a nurse for over 40 years and really enjoy helping people. The Red Cross seemed to be the perfect avenue to continue that,” said Shari Clarke, an Eastern South Carolina volunteer.

Clarke just ended a virtual deployment that focused on helping families impacted after Hurricane Laura. She spent much of that time checking in with those families and staff making sure they were healthy and had what they needed in terms of medication, support and resources.

“The benefit to me of being on a virtual deployment was that I could reach out to someone, even though it was not human touch, it was verbal touch,” said Clarke. “Most of them said that it was so nice to know that someone is thinking about us and caring about us.”

Clarke is one of several South Carolina volunteers that have deployed virtually to support national disaster responses.

“I did find the virtual option rewarding and I did find it convenient because I didn’t have to pack up. Mentally, it is the same,” said Clarke. “We need to embrace the fact that our voices are our new touchpoints. We may not be able to see them with our two eyes, but we can still feel and have the compassion for these people in the midst of the events that are significantly impacted their lives to one, give them hope, and two, link them to resources that we know are available.”

VOLUNTEER FROM HOME (Virtual Positions)
You can even help from the comfort of your own home. In times of disaster or social isolation it can be difficult for people to leave their homes to volunteer in the community. Even while staying home, there is opportunity to support the Red Cross mission virtually. We have a wide range of volunteer opportunities in which volunteers can engage remotely.

Will you be a true hero and help your community Become a Red Cross volunteer.

Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn about our most-needed volunteer positions. They include:

SHELTER HELP NEEDED Train now to be a Red Cross shelter volunteer so you can answer the call when your community needs it most. There is a special need for people to support sheltering efforts. Because of COVID-19, the Red Cross is placing those needing a safe place to stay in emergency hotel lodging when possible. If hotel stays aren’t possible, then the Red Cross will open traditional shelters.
We need volunteers to staff shelter reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks. We have both associate and supervisory level opportunities available.

HEALTH SERVICES SUPPORT NEEDED If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with an active, current and unencumbered license, the Red Cross needs your support. Volunteers are needed in shelters to help assess people’s health. Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents may also be required. RNs supervise all clinical tasks.
Roles are also available for Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Home Health Aides, student nurses and medical students. We 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.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.