LOS ANGELES, Jan._11_– Monday, January 15 has been set aside as a day to honor the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. with a Day of Service, recognizing the difference one person can make. Whether by giving much-needed blood, helping one displaced family or thousands, providing care and comfort to an ill or injured service member or veteran, or teaching others how to respond in emergencies, it’s through the efforts of ordinary people that the Red Cross can do its extraordinary work.
“Volunteerism is the foundation of the Red Cross in fulfilling our mission here in LA and around the world,” said Jarrett_Barrios, CEO_Red Cross Los Angeles Region. “The hard work and selfless dedication of our Red Cross volunteers improves the well-being of our communities, and help save lives every day.”
There are many ways for individuals, groups, faith-based organization and businesses to volunteer and be part of the MLK Day of Service:
•Give Blood or Platelets: Make an Appointment to donate blood or platelets and help save lives. Due to a winter blood donation shortage, we have an urgent need for blood and platelet donors of all blood types. To give now use the Blood Donor App, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to schedule your blood or platelet donation appointment.
•Help Red Cross to Sound the Alarm: Join the hundreds of volunteers that come out to a community Sound the Alarm. Save Life event. This is a nationwide initiative that aims to reduce deaths and injuries caused by home fires by 25 percent. Volunteers, especially bilingual are needed in many areas of the Los Angeles region to help install smoke alarms in at-risk communities to make them safer. Please take the time to sign up for an event today and help save a life. Installation events happen on Saturdays. Visit: soundthealarm.org/losangeles
•Become a Red Cross Volunteer: More than 90 percent of the Red Cross total workforce is composed of volunteers. We rely on people across the Los Angeles region to carry out our humanitarian and lifesaving work. There are many ways to volunteer with the Red Cross. To learn more about how you can volunteer to help people in their time of need please visit: redcross.org/volunteer.
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About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform_its_mission. For more information, please visit_redcrossla.org_or_cruzrojaLA.org, or visit us on Twitter at_@RedCrossLA.__