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Prospective Volunteer Guide
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Over 100 years of service, dedication, and compassion
Rooted in over a centurys tradition of service to the community,
the American Red Cross is one of the worlds most renowned
humanitarian organizations.
From national and international disasters to single family home
fires, the American Red Cross is here to help people prevent,
prepare, and respond to emergencies.
Mission Statement The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates
human sufferingin the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power
of volunteers
and the generosity of donors.
Fundamental PrinciplesOur commitment to the Fundamental
Principles of Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement brings us
together with a common purpose, inspires us to excel and to behave
in ways that earn the trust of others in our communities, and
across the world.
About Us
Volunteer Service Unity Universality
H U MAN ITY I M PARTIALITY N E UTRALITY
I N DE PE N DE NCE VOLU NTE E R S E RVICE
U N ITYU N IVE RSALITY
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It Pays Off
By volunteering with the American Red Cross, youll join a
worldwide movement dedicated to relieving human suffering. Whether
youre in career transition, a student looking for experience, work
full-time, retired, or just have a few extra hours, you too can
make a difference.
Learn New Skills Volunteering is a great way to learn new skills
and reinforce current ones. By viewing our opportunities page, you
can find the areas that best match your interest. Strengthen Your
Network Volunteering brings together people from all walks of life
so you can diversify and broaden your network. Plus, youll meet
others who share your commitment to service.
Fill in Employment Gaps In career transition? Relocated to a new
city? Looking for a career change? Being a volunteer is the perfect
option if youre in between careers or transitioning into your next
big move. Youll gain real life experience and have a title and role
that you can use for your next gig in life.
You = Volunteer
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Do Some Good Need we say more?
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Where You Fit
By becoming a Red Cross volunteer, you can empower yourself,
your family and your community to stand ready. Here are areas where
you can play a part.
Disaster ResponderAssist in providing emergency relief to those
affected by disasters through the Disaster Action Team or during
large-scale responses.
Preparedness and Health and SafetyProvide administrative
assistance to customers and general clerical duties. Facilitate
certification courses including CPR and First Aid in the
community.
Blood Services/BiomedicalAssist Red Cross Blood Services staff
at local Blood Drives with registration and refreshments. Sorry,
positions for volunteer Phlebotomists are not available.
Service to the Armed ForcesAssist in outreaching to local
agencies, community partners, and organizations that serve members
of the military and their families.
International ServicesAssist in outreach and casework to clients
separated from family members in other countries due to armed
conflict, disasters, or other humanitarian emergencies.
Opportunities
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Development & GrantsProvide administrative assistance and
support special events. Assist in procuring and administering
government contracts and foundation grants.
CommunicationsSupport the creation of stories, graphics, photos,
videos, and social media for websites and collateral.
Volunteer ServicesAssist in the overall planning and
coordination, to recruit, retain, and recognizes volunteers with
volunteer service.
Community Outreach & Preparedness EducationEngage and
educate local residents by hosting Red Cross info booths and
preparedness presentations in the community.
Youth & Young Adult ServicesProvide support to local youth
leadership volunteers to assist in event planning and
supervision.
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If youre ready to JOIN THE TEAM, complete the steps below by
visiting www.RedCross.org/la-volunteer to get started!
Basic Steps
ApplicationGive us the basics - name, address, etc. on Volunteer
Connection.
Orientation Sign up for a Prospective Volunteer Boot Camp
(orientation) through Volunteer Connection, where youll meet other
prospective volunteers and get your questions answered.
Background Check*Request a background check through Volunteer
Connection. Its Free!
*Background checks are required. If your background check is not
cleared you will receive an email. At this time, the Red Cross
cannot accept uncleared background checks. Please contact us at
[email protected] if you have
questions.
Getting Started
CALL 1 .866.548.8226 CLICK www.RedCross.org/ la-volunteer E MAI
L VolunteerServ [email protected]
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Be A Disaster Responder
Driven by our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering
in the face of emergencies, the Los Angeles Region strives to have
all Red Cross Volunteers qualify to be disaster responders, so in
the event of a local disaster we can easily mobilize volunteers who
wish to engage in response and relief efforts.
During the Prospective Volunteer Boot Camp you will receive an
overview of your local Red Cross and volunteer opportunities.
Additionally, you will receive basic training to get started as a
Disaster Responder including Disaster Services: An Overview and
Disaster Action Team Orientation.
CALL 1 .866.548.8226 CLICK www.RedCross.org/ la-volunteer E MAI
L VolunteerServ [email protected]
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Q. What happens after I submit my application?
A. Individuals will receive an email to activate their profile
in Volunteer Connection and review next steps.
Q. How long does it take to become a volunteer?
A. Depending on how quickly you complete the Application,
Orientation, and Background Check, the process can take 1-3 weeks.
You may be contacted within 1 week from the background check
approval. If you were born outside of the US, it may take longer
for you to receive the results of your background check. If your
background check is not approved, you will also receive an email.
To check the status of your application, please log into Volunteer
Connection. Prospective volunteers will have 60 days to complete
the prospective volunteer steps before their application is
inactivated.
Q. How soon can I go overseas to volunteer after a disaster?
A. Criteria for volunteer deployment to national and
international incidents vary based on the disaster. While there is
no guarantee that you will be deployed on national and
international incidents as a volunteer, the American Red Cross
provides training to help you learn how to serve communities on
many levels.
Q. Is there an hours requirement to volunteer?
A. Yes. A 20 hour per year commitment is requested (average of
1.6 hours/month). In the Los Angeles Region we take your time
seriously and want your contribution to the American Red Cross to
be meaningful and productive.
Q. Why do I have to complete a background check to volunteer?
How much does it cost?
A. Background checks have been an area of focus at the American
Red Cross for many years. The Red Cross continues to reaffirm its
accountability to the public and background checks are a part of
that. Background checks are free for prospective volunteers.
FAQ
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Q. Where can I find out what volunteer opportunities exist?
A. Open volunteer opportunities are available for view online at
http://tiny.cc/vol-opps or in Volunteer Connection under
Opportunities.
Q. Can I complete my court ordered hours with the Red Cross?
A. Our region does not support court-ordered community service
as our dedicated cadre of volunteers requires a commitment to
support the mission. Due to training requirements, short-term
volunteering is not preferred.
Q. What are the age requirements?
A. You must be 18 years of age or older to become an adult
volunteer. For more information on Youth & Young Adults
Services, visit:www.RedCross.org/la-youth
Q. Where can I find information about the American Red Cross Los
Angeles Region?
A. To find information about the American Red Cross Los Angeles
Region, visit www.RedCrossLA.org. For information on preparedness,
please visit:www.PrepareSoCal.org.
Q. Do you have volunteer opportunities for groups?
A. Yes! Group Volunteer Opportunities (GVO) are one-time events
tailored for groups looking for a service project or activity. This
program is open to all, Red Cross volunteers or not. For
information visit:www.RedCross.org/la-groupvolunteer
If you have questions, feel free to contact us:
American Red Cross Los Angeles Region - Volunteer ServicesCall
1.866.548.8226
Click www.RedCross.org/la-volunteer Email
[email protected]
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Rev 063014
Our Main Offices
To learn more, visit us at RedCrossLA.org or follow us on
Facebook and Twitter.
Antelope Valley 2715 East Avenue P Palmdale, CA 3550
Arcadia376 Huntington Drive Arcadia, CA 91007
Santa Monica1450 11th Street
Santa Monica, CA 90401
American Red Cross Los Angeles Region Headquarters
11355 Ohio AvenueLos Angeles, CA 90025
Greater Long Beach3150 East 29th Street
Long Beach, CA 90806
San Gabriel/Pomona Valley430 Madeline DrivePasadena, CA
91105
Glendale-Crescenta Valley1501 South Brand Boulevard
Glendale, CA 91204
Rio Hondo6706 Friends AvenueWhittier, CA 90601
