Red Cross Issues Call for Help during National Volunteer Month

Critical need for disaster volunteers as extreme weather worsens

April is National Volunteer Month, and the American Red Cross is celebrating the more than 300,000 volunteers whose unwavering support makes it possible for us to assist people in need every day. They constitute more than 90% of the Red Cross workforce and are the cornerstone of our lifesaving mission.

We salute and thank our volunteers for giving both their time and compassion to ensure that people are not alone during the most challenging times of their lives. Every day, they respond to disasters of all sizes, support blood drives, assist veterans and military families, and teach essential lifesaving skills such as first aid and CPR.

EXTREME WEATHER The frequency and intensity of extreme weather is rapidly increasing. Hurricanes threaten to be more intense; wildfire season now occurs all year long and the rise in severity of spring weather is leading to more flooding and tornadoes.

As a result, the Red Cross is operating in a state of continuous disaster response with a major disaster occurring as often as every 15 days. 2025 has already witnessed a significant number of big disasters, 

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED As the country heads into hurricane and wildfire season, there is a critical need for disaster volunteers. The Red Cross also collects and distributes about 40 percent of our nation’s blood supply and there is a need for volunteers willing to support hospital patients who are counting on blood products being available when they need them.

While we need volunteers of all types, there is a crucial need for these key positions.

• Disaster Action Team (DAT): Help families in your community after a home fire or other disaster. DAT team members provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover.
• Shelter Volunteers: Ensure needs of shelter residents are met and help them access additional services.
• Blood donor ambassadors: Engage with blood donors by greeting them at blood drives, helping them register, answering questions, providing information and assisting them at the refreshments table.
• Blood transportation specialists: Volunteer transportation specialists support hospital patients by delivering blood from our facilities to local hospitals. If you have a little free time, love driving and enjoy meeting new people, the Red Cross has a great volunteer spot waiting for you.

During the month of April, the American Red Cross is celebrating the heroes whose daily support and hard work embody the organization’s lifesaving mission to help those in need. We invite you to put back on the vest and share your volunteer story or support our important work with a fundraiser. Visit Redcross.org/CelebrateVolunteers to get started today.