Media contact: Keith Paul
Regional Communications Director
keith.paul@redcross.org | 702-400-7680

SALT LAKE CITY (Jan. 15, 2023) — The American Red Cross of Utah is honoring the Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service, Monday, Jan. 16, by encouraging residents to become volunteers and donate blood to help those in the community in need.

"We are honored to participate in the National Day of Service and pay tribute to Dr. King's enduring impact on our country," said Heidi Ruster, Chief Executive Officer of the American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region. "This day is a reminder of the power we have to make a difference in the lives of others as Red Cross volunteers supporting our community in times of crisis.”

Across the country, more than 300,000 Red Cross volunteers serve their communities by responding to thousands of disasters; supporting the collection of blood to help patients receive the critical care they need; aiding members of the military and their families; helping communities prepare for emergencies around the globe and much more.

Last year, Utah Red Cross volunteers helped nearly 200 families displaced by home fires, installed more than 400 free smoke alarms, and held about 3,000 blood drives collecting about 90,000 units of blood, according to Ruster. “We invite our community members to act on Dr. King’s legacy today and commit to volunteering with us throughout the year,” she said. “Service has the power to bring communities together, build bridges, and heal divides. Service unites people regardless of race, religion, or zip code.”

Our local volunteers are part of the more than 300,000 people across the country whose support enables the Red Cross to respond to an average of more than 60,000 disasters every year and deliver more than 6.4 million blood products to hospital patients in need. Volunteers also help train more than 4.6 million people in Red Cross lifesaving skills; help provide nearly 550,000 services to military members, veterans and their families; and to reconnect almost 9,000 families separated by war or disaster around the world.

In Utah, more than 1,150 residents last year volunteered more than 48,000 hours to help their community. “Today we encourage residents to become Red Cross volunteers and answer Dr. King’s call to serve and make a difference in the lives of the people in our community,” Ruster said.

Help others in your community
For more information and to apply for a volunteer position in Salt Lake City area and Northern Utah, contact Julie Schwartz at julie.schwartz@redcross.org or 385-258-5310 or visit RedCross.org/volunteertoday. To volunteer in Central or Southern Utah, contact Bonnie Cook at bonnie.cook@redcross.org or 702-268-3207 or visit RedCross.org/volunteertoday. 

Here are just a few of the positions available now:

• Blood Donor Ambassadors engage with blood donors at blood drives by greeting, registering, answering questions, providing information, and supporting them through the recovery process at the refreshments table. Training is easy and online.
• Transportation Specialists help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals by choosing regular routes, stand-by emergency deliveries or both.
  
• Disaster Action Team Members sign up for on-call shifts as part of a team to help provide 24-hour emergency response to local disasters, ensuring that your neighbors have access to resources for necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. We supply the training.
  

Martin Luther King National Day of Service
Observed each year on the third Monday in January, MLK Day is the only federal holiday designated as a National Day of Service to encourage all Americans to volunteer to improve their communities. MLK Day became a federal holiday in 1986, and Congress designated it as a National Day of Service in 1994.

About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds, and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members, and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.