By Alana Mauger

This summer, you’re invited to turn your compassion into action by volunteering with the American Red Cross. Communities across the country count on the Red Cross every day.

Ninety percent of our workforce are volunteers who are inspired to give back, and the need remains critical and constant during the summer months. From helping people affected by disasters like home fires and floods, to supporting the collection of lifesaving blood, you can make a difference.

There is currently a critical need for these volunteer roles in Southeastern Pennsylvania:

• 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 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.

• Shelter Support: Help at a shelter during a large disaster either locally or across the country by welcoming and registering residents, serving meals, setting up cots, distributing blankets and personal hygiene kits and providing information and other assistance to people in need. Training and travel costs are covered by the Red Cross.

• Disaster Recovery Client Care Program: Work with individuals and families impacted by disasters, including home fires. Volunteers can choose to work remotely using their own phone and internet or from the Red Cross House, which is a disaster recovery center at 40th and Powelton streets in Philadelphia.

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