Volunteer Opportunities and Application Process

The American Red Cross helps people in emergencies every day. Whether its half a million disaster victims or one sick child who needs blood, Our vital work is made possible by people like you, who learn how good it can feel to lend a helping hand.

The American Red Cross needs you!

• Various Opportunities to Help — Red Cross volunteers provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
• Fits Your Schedule— Your local Red Cross chapter can work with you to provide rewarding experiences, whatever your schedule.
• No Special Skills Required — The Red Cross needs people with all kinds of different backgrounds, talents and skill levels. And, if you need training, we'll provide it.

We Depend on Volunteers

Volunteers constitute 96 percent of our total work force to carry on our humanitarian work:

• Every year the Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters—including approximately 150 home fires every day.
• About 11 million Americans turn to us to learn first aid, CPR, swimming, and other health and safety skills. Last year, more than 158,000 people volunteered to teach those courses.
• Half the nation's blood supply— six million pints annually—is collected by more than 155,000 Red Cross volunteers.
• Among our emergency services for the men and women of the armed forces is the delivery of urgent family messages—around the clock and around the globe.
• More than 30,900 volunteers serve as chairs, members of boards of directors, or on advisory boards for local Red Cross units - chapters, Blood Services regions, and military stations.
• As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, Red Cross reconnects more than 8,000 families separated by conflicts and disasters around the world through international tracking services and Red Cross messages.

Don't wait another day!

Find out how good it feels to wear the Red Cross emblem—contact the chapter @ 765-8534 for more information right now. Or, go online—VolunteerMatch 's powerful online database lets you search thousands of one-time and ongoing Red Cross opportunities by zip code, category, and date.

Volunteer Application Process

• In order to have your application processed, please answer all questions as completely as possible.  While we encourage you to attach a resume, please note that a resume will not substitute for completing any portion of this application.  All information will be treated confidentially.

  American Red Cross considers applicants for all volunteer positions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, age, national origin, disabled or veteran status, or other legally protected status.

  Complete and Submit Volunteer Application Online
  Download and Mail or Drop Off Volunteer Application Form  (PDF, 218Kb)

• The Volunteer Handbook contains important information that will enhance your volunteer experience. Please take the time to read through it and refer back to it as questions arise. When you've finished reading the handbook, please print and sign the forms on pages 20 and 28 and return them to the Chapter.

  Volunteer Handbook  (PDF, 771Kb)

• The American Red Cross conducts background checks on all new volunteer and paid staff. These background checks include a national criminal database search, sexual predator search, social security verification and a motor vehicle check (for those who may drive a Red Cross vehicle). This information is submitted by you through a secure online portal and the results of which are confidential. No personal results of the background check are provided to the chapter, only a notification that the applicant has passed the background check. Individuals who do not pass the background check will be notified directly by MyBackgroundCheck.com within 14 days with instructions onhow to correct any errors or appeal the results of the background check. There is no fee incurred with this check.

  You will need to provide your name, address, email address, telephone number, social security number, and driver's license number (if you have one). You'll also need to supply our Unit of Affiliation ( South Plains Regional Chapter ).

  Initiate Online Background Check

• Complete the Online Orientation that covers the history of the Red Cross and provides an overview of the work our volunteers do.

  New Employee And Volunteer Orientation  (Apx. 1 hour)

• Finally, if you're applying for a Disaster Services position, view the Introduction to Disaster Services online video that shows you some of the work disaster volunteers perform on site and behind the scenes.  To receive course credit, please complete and print the "Where Do You Fit In" page and return it to the chapter.

  Introduction to Disaster Services (Apx. 1 hour)