Volunteering for the Red Cross
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David and I have both donated blood to the Red Cross for years. Beyond helping others, we get free cookies and, additionally, we lose about a pound each from the blood donation. It’s always about us. All kidding aside, we always feel good after we’ve donated. Someone, somewhere has benefited from that pint of blood we gave. In fact, maybe three people are helped since whole blood, platelets and plasma are three different uses for that one liquid pint of gold.
Blood donation and processing are only small parts of what Red Cross is all about
After donating blood recently, I was wondering about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross. I chatted with the Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador who checked me in at the donation facility. I figured maybe I could do that once in awhile. Though we’re aware the Red Cross helps in disaster situations following tornadoes, floods, hurricanes and wildfires, we were quite unaware of all the other community programs and services that Red Cross provides. Beyond Blood Services for which they’re most known, The Red Cross also provides International Services providing aid to other countries; Service to Armed Forces supporting military personnel and their families; Training, everything from CPR and First Aid to Lifeguard and Babysitting courses; and, of course, Disaster Relief which extends far beyond just aiding in times of disaster, but also encompasses lots of Preparedness courses for adults and kids alike.
The Red Cross boasts nearly 300,000 volunteers in the USA alone, and I was impressed that over 90% of each dollar donated goes directly to helping people in need. It’s not just disasters, it’s sheltering folks who have experienced a local house fire, installing smoke alarms, food delivery, and home visits.
I completed an online form expressing my interest in volunteering and was surprised to receive an email within days inviting me to an Onboarding Meeting for information and orientation into the volunteer program. It was a quick meeting outlining possible areas in which I could volunteer. I was amazed at the wide range of volunteer activities available. Working with youth, training, fleet operations, and facility maintenance, biomed services, disaster services, interfacing with military families, and communications. We were asked to choose two areas of interest… communications was first on the list.
Within days, I was in touch with the Regional Communications Manager, and after a brief discussion on my interests and background, I was given my first writing assignment… a short article on a newly launched mentoring program. My assignment included interviewing a regional staff member and another volunteer, and I enjoyed ‘meeting’ them both. I think I’m going to like volunteering for the Red Cross. As I learn more, I plan to keep exploring other opportunities within the organization in which to participate.
David’s in the midst of a couple of projects, but he’s already expressed interest in volunteering as soon as his current commitments are finished. This portends to be an enjoyable and personally satisfying way for us to give back to community. Have you ever considered volunteering for the Red Cross?