Volunteer

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Approximately 97% of our staff is comprised of volunteers and we utilize the support of volunteers within very facet of our organization. There are a variety of meaningful opportunities to take advantage of. Join us! There’s much to do and the need is great!

Blood Services

Volunteers are needed to support blood drives throughout the community by working as greeters and canteen workers.  Greeters provide superb customer service by greeting donors, directing donors and providing important information regarding the donation process. Canteen workers provide refreshments to donors, as they recover from their donation and report any reactions (bleeding, dizziness, etc.) to nursing staff.  They may also be asked to assist donors as they walk from a blood mobile to a canteen area.

Disaster Services

The American Red Cross addresses the immediate needs of individuals and families displaced by small scale disasters such as residential house fires and large scale disasters such as hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes and floods. The Red Cross doesn’t take a vacation, therefore, trained volunteers are needed every day to serve our community. There are three primary arenas in which you can serve within disaster services:

• Disaster Action Teams: These teams respond to local, residential house fires, addressing the feeding, sheltering and clothing needs of those displaced from their homes.

• Disaster Associates:These volunteers represent the various group activities that respond to large-scale, local disasters – addressing the immediate needs of those displaced by hurricanes, nor’easters, tornadoes, etc. We need volunteers to respond. We also need volunteers to support year-round planning processes. Help is needed within the following activities:
  • Communications
  • Sheltering
  • Feeding
  • Logistics (Bulk Distribution)
  • Staff Services
  • Client Casework
  • Damage Assessment
  • Mental Health (Must be a licensed or certified mental health worker)
  • Health Services (Must be a licensed or certified nurse or doctor)

With the exception of Mental Health & Health Services, no prior experience or certification is required. We will train you! We are always looking for leaders! There is room to grow.

Deployment: Trained and experienced volunteers may have the opportunity to deploy to other parts of the state or nation to provide relief during large-scale relief operations.

Service to Armed Forces

Volunteers are needed to train as Service to Armed Forces Caseworkers. Caseworkers take emergency calls from military families in need of connecting with a deployed loved one. Additional opportunities that fall underneath the auspices of Service to Armed Forces are as follows:

Education: Volunteers are needed to connect and speak with service members and their families, including Reserve and National Guard units (and families), providing an overview of services and support available, during times of emergency.

Fundraising/Grant Writing: You can support efforts to raise funds and establish programs which benefit members of the armed forces and their families and veterans within our community.

Support to Veterans: We seek volunteers to work on a variety of projects to support veterans. You can join us as we make visits to veterans at our local VA Hospital. You can record stories and memories shared by veterans. Volunteers are need to collect baked goods, food and clothing items to support VA residents and the VA homeless program.

Other Opportunities: There are a variety of unique volunteer opportunities at Ft. Eustis, Langley Air Force Base and Ft. Monroe. Volunteers can support blood drives, volunteer at various offices and clinics, provide administrative support at our Ft. Eustis and Langley Air Force Base offices and much more.

Health & Safety Services

Instructors: Volunteers are needed to certify as instructors to teach a variety of health & safety courses including but not limited to CPR/AED (Adult, Infant & Children and Professional Rescuer), Standard First Aid, Babysitter’s Training, Pet First Aid, Learn to Swim, Lifeguarding and more.

Marketing/Outreach: Volunteers are needed to support marketing efforts, communicating special promotions and opportunities to our community.

Presentations for Youth: Presenters are needed to provide basic aid training, first aid training and information on basic hygienic practices to children. No special certification is needed! You must enjoy working with children and have a willingness to connect with youth groups in our community.

Preparedness

Community Disaster Education: Volunteers are needed to provide preparedness training to audiences of all ages. Help us encourage others to Get a Kit. Make a Plan. and Be Informed – Be Red Cross Ready! Special opportunities are also available to educate youth on natural disaster and fire safety preparedness topics. Help us teach youth in our community to be Masters of Disaster!

Community Events: Volunteers are needed to represent our Chapter at a variety of community events, including health fairs and other preparedness focused events. Duties usually include staffing information tables and booths and distributing pamphlets and information. This is a great opportunity for volunteers of all ages.

Fundraising

Breakfast: Join us for our Board & Friends Breakfast, which takes place in September. Volunteers are needed to work registration, greet guests and distribute gifts.

Dress Down Under: Dress Down Under is the antithesis of a suit and tie affair. This event is a literal outdoor party that features a live and silent auction, live music, food catered by Outback Steakhouse and much more! Over 120 volunteers are needed to make the event a success!

Heroes: Our Heroes campaign is a campaign appropriate for volunteers of all ages – as individuals or in groups. During this Campaign (which officially kicks off each year in March) we encourage you to strive to raise $1,000 for us through any means of your choice (safe and legal). We give you a variety of wonderful ideas to help you get started and publicly acknowledge your efforts. This makes for a fantastic service project for youth and adults alike.

Bingo: Support Bingo on certain Saturdays of the month from 12:30-4:30pm at Chestnut Bingo Hall. Volunteers sell and verify games and provide support to players and other workers. For those in need of hours for school or other community service projects – this is the opportunity for you! All volunteers who work a full shift, accrue ten (10) volunteer hours for their efforts!

Measles Initiative: Raise funds to vaccinate a village against this deadly but curable disease! This project is wonderful for groups and individuals – ideal for youth.

Other Great Opportunities

• Summer Youth Programs (14 years of age & older) – Langley Air Force Base & Ft. Eustis
• Red Cross Clubs  – We can help you bring a club to your school campus (K-University)
• Clerical/Data Entry opportunities
• Grant Writing (All Services)
• Community Relations (photography & more)
• Meals on Wheels (One (1) route each Thursday)
• Internships/Externships (Voluntary)
• Service Learning (Youth in Action Leadership Development Curriculum)
• Much, much more!

Are you a highly skilled individual looking for a challenging and awarding volunteer position!? Check us out! Leadership opportunities are available within every service area.

How do I get started?

The first step to get started as a volunteer is to attend a volunteer orientation.  During orientation, we provide a thorough overview of the important services of the Red Cross and available volunteer opportunities. 

Orientations are offered at our new Chapter HQ,

Located at 1323 W. Pembroke Ave., Hampton, VA 23661

Orientation is every second Wednesday of each month, those dates are as follows:

 

April 11, 2012

May 9, 2012

June 13, 2012

July 11,2012

August 8 , 2012

September 12, 2012

October 10, 2012

November 14, 2012

December 12, 2012

10am or 6pm

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Registration instructions can be found here.  Please contact Roxanne Kohlman, Volunteer and Customer Support Specialist at (757) 838-7320 or rkohlman@hrredcross.org with questions regarding volunteer opportunities in the Coastal Virginia Region.

 

Orientations generally run for about and hour and a half (but are generally listed in our learning management system as a 2-hour course).

 

View and download the Volunteer Handbook (pdf)