As you think about your resolutions this month, consider helping people in need as a volunteer locally or in communities across North Carolina. The Red Cross has immediate volunteer opportunities across all counties in Eastern North Carolina, with urgent needs in Wake, Durham, Orange, Chatham and Johnston counties.

“Just knowing that someone is there to lend a helping hand during these trying times provides a light of hope for our neighbors,” said Sandy Stewart, regional volunteer services director, Red Cross Eastern North Carolina.

Families depend on Red Cross volunteers for emergency support, including helping families impacted by local disasters and home fires, reaching out to military and veteran families to provide aid, helping out at essential blood drives, and more.

The Red Cross will host two “Resolve to Volunteer Virtual Open House” events help interested volunteers to learn more about opportunities to make a difference in their local community:

• Tuesday, Jan. 26, from 7-8 p.m.
• Wednesday, Jan. 27, from noon-1 p.m.

To register for either of these virtual sessions, visit https://rdcrss.org/3pvg4tM or email ENCRecruit@redcross.org.

HOW TO HELP

The need for volunteers is constant, and everyone’s well-being is a top priority as we work with public health officials to safely deliver services during COVID-19. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including our most-needed 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 need for transportation specialists in Durham and Wake Counties to help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals.
• Disaster response volunteers: 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.
• Volunteer from home (virtual positions): Help from the comfort of your own home through a wide range of virtual opportunities.