The local Red Cross held its spring Virtual Volunteer Fair on April 22 and 23 to reach out to people looking to help their communities and abroad.
“The work we do here impacts lives every day,” Taylor Poisall, Senior Volunteer Recruitment Specialist for the Central Valley American Red Cross, said. “Every 60 seconds, 63 people are assisted.”
The Central Valley Red Cross has responded to 572 disasters and assisted 864 families, according to Red Cross volunteer Jennifer Samaritan. Volunteers account for over 90 percent of the workforce, and it’s why the Red Cross hosted the fair.
Since COVID-19 is taking top priority across the county, there are a lot of virtual volunteer services that can be done at home, according to Red Cross volunteer Shelley Ragsdale. Recruitment opportunities for the Red Cross are among the virtual volunteer services. Another opportunity is virtually working for Public Affairs, and you can do all the work from your virtual office at home.
Poisall clarified that 25 percent of the volunteers are 24 years old or younger and that even high school students can sign up to help the Central Valley by joining the Red Cross.
According to Samaritan, there are also international opportunities that can be done at home. The Red Cross has reunited families all over the globe that have been separated by war, civil conflict and other tragedies. Volunteers help by making calls, doing online research and posting missing loved ones to Facebook. All of this work can be done at home.
Since coronavirus, there has been a shortage of blood donations and Poidall said they need volunteers to help fill in the shortages.
“The work we do here impacts lives every day,” Taylor Poisall, Senior Volunteer Recruitment Specialist for the Central Valley American Red Cross, said. “Every 60 seconds, 63 people are assisted.”