By Alana Mauger

As we near the end of 2022 and begin to think about our New Year’s resolutions, the American Red Cross of Southeastern Pennsylvania asks that you consider making a meaningful choice by becoming a Red Cross volunteer.

Locally, more than 1,500 people volunteer with the Red Cross. These local volunteers are part of the almost 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.

“Our Red Cross volunteers step up to help our neighbors here in Southeastern Pennsylvania each and every day,” said Guy Triano, CEO, Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania “In the last year, our volunteers responded to more than 600 local disasters, distributed over 100,000 units of blood, provided more than 2,300 case services for military families and trained more than 50,000 people in lifesaving skills. Just imagine the impact you could make in 2023 by joining us as a volunteer.”

Benefits of Volunteering

Volunteering is good for you and our community. The top five benefits of resolving to volunteer in 2023 include:

1. Meeting new people. Our volunteers are amazing individuals with diverse backgrounds that are inspired to give back, just like you.
2. Learning new skills. Red Cross volunteer positions include free training and provide an opportunity to experience new adventures.
3. Being part of something larger. Become a vital part of the Red Cross and our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering.
4. Making a difference in someone’s life. Whether you are helping a family that just had a home fire or supporting the collection of lifesaving blood, your impact is real.
5. Staying active. Many volunteer roles require physical activity which is great for your overall health.

Local Volunteer Opportunities

Below are few of the volunteer positions we need help filling. You can learn more about these positions by joining us for a “Resolve to Volunteer” virtual information session on Thursday, Jan. 12 at noon. Please register in advance at rdcrss.org/3WzmR6e. Can’t make the session? Email ned.bloom@redcross.org or lynn.cohen@redcross.org for information.

• Blood Transportation Specialists:  Help deliver blood from our collection sites throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania and New Jersey to our lab in Philadelphia for testing and processing and/or to deliver blood products from our lab to hospitals in the area using a Red Cross-owned vehicle.

• Disaster Action Team Members: Sign up for on-call shifts as part of a team to help provide 24-hour emergencyresponse to local disasters, ensuring that your neighbors have access to resources for necessities such food, shelter and clothing.

• Disaster Response Duty Officers: Volunteer from home to dispatch local Red Cross volunteers to meet with families impacted by home fires and other disasters so they can provide temporary relief such as a safe place to stay, food and clothing.

• Service to the Armed Forces Clinic Volunteers: Help enhance the morale of veterans by providing direct and indirect assistance to patient care activities at the Veterans Affairs Medical Center in Coatesville, Chester County.

Training is free, but the hope you provide as a Red Cross volunteer is priceless. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to get started.