The American Red Cross thanks volunteers for stepping up during COVID-19

National Volunteer Week is April 18-24, and the American Red Cross Eastern New York Region recognizes its volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to help people in need during COVID-19.

Throughout the Eastern New York Region, more than 1,700 people volunteer with the Red Cross by responding to home fires and other disasters, supporting blood collections, providing emergency assistance to military families, and much more. These individuals are among the more than 300,000 volunteers who comprise more than 90% of the national Red Cross workforce.

We are grateful for the dedication of our volunteers, whose support make a compassionate difference for our neighbors in need. Their support during disasters and other emergencies has been more critical than ever, as families cope with increased anxiety and financial strains brought on by the pandemic.

Last year, volunteers responded to 577 local disasters, providing relief to more than 2,300 people impacted by fires, floods and other emergencies; installed nearly 4,000 free smoke alarms making more than 2,400 homes safer; worked with over 2,800 military families connecting them with critical services and support; trained over 40,000 people in life saving courses including CPR, water safety and babysitting; and collected more than 66,000 units of life-saving blood.

The American Red Cross Eastern New York Region is comprised of three chapters – Central and Northern New York, Hudson Valley, and Northeastern New York – along with three blood donation centers. Together, these chapters serve a population of more than 3.6 million people across 27 counties and more than 51,000 square miles.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Become a Red Cross volunteer to ensure families don’t face emergencies along. Visit redcross.org/VolunteerToday to learn more, including about our most-needed volunteer positions:

  • Blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists: Blood donations are essential to the health of our communities, and blood donor ambassadors are a vital part of this work by welcoming visitors and taking their temperatures before entering Red Cross facilities and blood drives. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, training course participants, and Red Cross employees and volunteers. We also have a high-priority need for transportation specialists to help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals.
  • Disaster Action Team: Most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes are local 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.

You can also make a lifesaving difference by making a financial donation at redcross.org and, if you’re healthy and feeling well, making an appointment to donate blood at RedCrossBlood.org. Those who come to give by April 30 will automatically be entered for a chance to win one of five $1,000 e-gift cards to a merchant of choice. Additional details are available at rcblood.org/Gift.