National Volunteer Week is April 19 to April 25, and the South Florida Red Cross honors its volunteers who are helping people in need, even during the uncertain times of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Emergencies don’t stop, and neither do local Red Cross volunteers, who are still providing care and comfort after disasters of all sizes, including home fires. Since March 16, Red Cross volunteers have helped more than 120 people affected by these crises.
Due to this coronavirus outbreak, volunteers are providing relief services after home fires virtually, in coordination with local fire departments. Connecting with families by phone or video calls, the agency is helping to provide support like lodging, health and mental health services, and emergency financial assistance, as well as link people to available recovery resources.
In the South Florida Region, more than 2,100 people volunteer with the Red Cross by responding to home fires day and night, providing emergency assistance to military families, supporting families impacted by COVID-19 with mental health and spiritual care services and so much more. These individuals are also among the more than 300,000 volunteers who comprise more than 90 percent of the national Red Cross workforce.
“Our Red Cross volunteers give their time to keep our communities strong,” said Joanne Nowlin, CEO of the South Florida Red Cross. “They are true heroes who serve our community every day and we honor them for providing the hope and comfort that families need during their darkest hours.”
Last year, the South Florida Red Cross deployed more than 200 volunteers to respond to major disasters across the country and provided food, shelter and comfort to more than 2,400 people impacted by home fires across the region.
They also have trained over 24,800 people in lifesaving skills, like CPR, First Aid and AED, as well as provided and delivered more than 30,000 services to military members, veterans and their families.
The need for volunteers is constant and continues to evolve during this coronavirus health crisis. Volunteer opportunities include supporting military families and delivering much-needed disaster services to the community. There are even have a wide variety of volunteer-from-home opportunities available. Find out more here.
Interested in serving? Everyone’s safety is our top priority. Review the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance for people who are at higher risk for severe illness, consult your healthcare provider and follow local guidance.
