Become a Red Cross Volunteer
Volunteers are the heart of the American Red Cross and we’d like you to join us. We depend on over 1.4 million volunteers nationwide and hundreds in the Los Angeles area to carry out our mission as the world’s leading humanitarian relief agency.
As a Red Cross volunteer, you can help people displaced by disaster, or go into schools and show children how to prepare for a fire. You can teach CPR and First Aid, or go out into the community spreading the Red Cross mission. Most of all, Red Cross volunteers help save lives… and what could be more fulfilling than that?
How to Volunteer
Becoming a Red Cross volunteer is as easy as 1-2-3:
STEP 1
NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION: Attend a 1.5 hour group orientation and speak with a volunteer liaison who can help you determine the most fulfilling opportunities for you at the Red Cross. You can register for an upcoming orientation by reviewing our Volunteer Orientation Calendar on the Volunteer Homepage.
STEP 2
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION: Once you register for an orientation through our website, you will receive an email with a link to our Online Volunteer Application. Please complete application prior to attending your orientation. (Online Volunteer Application link only available through volunteer orientation registration)
STEP 3
VOLUNTEER ASSIGNMENT AND BACKGROUND CHECK: During your orientation, you will select your top volunteer areas of interest and you will be referred to the department you selected. As part of the process, you will also need to complete a basic background check at mybackgroundcheck.com. Only complete a background check AFTER you have attended a volunteer orientation.
Once your background check is complete, the Office of Volunteer Services will refer you to the department of interest to you. The department will contact you to interview you further, or set your volunteer schedule. This process can take up to 2-3 weeks after your volunteer orientation.
Additional Steps for Disaster Services Volunteers Only
STEP 4
DSHR APPLICATION: Interested Disaster Volunteers must also complete a Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) application. You can download a DSHR Application to complete and submit it at a Fulfilling Our Mission class OR mail it to our DSHR Coordinator at the following address:
American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles
Attn: Paula Clamurro
11355 Ohio Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90025
STEP 5
ATTEND FULFILLING OUR MISSION CLASS: This course will introduce potential disaster volunteers to the role of the Red Cross in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. You can view upcoming classes and register for them by accessing the following link: Disaster Services Training Schedule
Once all the above steps are completed, you will be contact by our DSHR Coordinator to set up a meeting to take your photo for your ID and discuss your goals with volunteering in Disaster Services.
For further information about volunteer policies and protocol, please refer to our Volunteer Handbook. For any inquiries, please contact the Office of Volunteer Services at (866) 548-8226 or at volunteer@arcla.org.
