A top New Year's resolution: Volunteer to help your neighbor

SAN DIEGO – As the New Year brings the tradition of resolutions, consider helping people in need as a Red Cross volunteer in San Diego and Imperial counties.

During the coronavirus pandemic, families continue to depend on local volunteers every day for emergency support, including assistance after local disasters, help for military service members and their families, providing lifesaving blood to local hospitals, and so much more.

“Just knowing that someone is there to lend a helping hand during these trying times provides a light of hope for our neighbors,” Sean Mahoney, regional CEO of the American Red Cross Southern California Region, said. “Please join us by resolving to help as a Red Cross volunteer to help ensure no one faces life’s emergencies alone.”

How to help

The need for volunteers is constant, and everyone’s well-being is top priority as the Red Cross works with public health officials to safely deliver services during COVID-19. Visit http://redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including most-needed positions.

Blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists

Blood donations are essential to the health of the community, and blood donor ambassadors welcome visitors and take their temperatures before they enter Red Cross facilities and blood drives.

Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, training course participants, and Red Cross employees and volunteers. The Red Cross said they also have a high-priority need for transportation specialists to help deliver blood from their facilities to hospitals.

Disaster response volunteers

Be part of a team that helps and responds to hundreds of local emergencies every year. In addition to wildfires, floods and other disasters, the American Red Cross of San Diego and Imperial counties responds to home fires, which can destroy nearly everything a family owns in a matter of minutes.

Partnering with local fire departments, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers connect with families by video or phone call to provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover. From offering a caring and compassionate ear, to meeting the disaster-caused needs of individuals and households, such as lodging and clothing and connecting them with long term recovery services, volunteers ensure that families have the help and support they need after disasters.

For more information about the American Red Cross Southern California Region, visit http://redcross.org/socal.

Submitted by American Red Cross.