How to Complete an American Red Cross Volunteer Application Form

Completing an American Red Cross volunteer application form has become much easier in the last few years, thanks to the Internet. Whether you choose to apply in person at a local chapter of the American Red Cross or log on to their official website, you can start donating your time to this worthy cause within a few days.

Instructions

Difficulty: Easy

Apply to the American Red Cross

1. Find a local chapter of the American Red Cross that is convenient to you and ask to complete the volunteer application form.
2. Complete the VolunteerMatch form, which will ask you how much time you will be able to donate to the American Red Cross, what special skills you may have that can help the organization (such as medical training or teaching credentials) and the location in which you want to work. In addition, you will be asked if you prefer to work with children, people over the age of 55 or other specific demographic groups.
3. Check out the listings for the volunteer positions available with the American Red Cross. These include Blood Donor Recruiter, Board Member, Disaster Services Clerk, HIV/AIDS Mentor, Safety Instructor, International Tracing Service Clerk and many more. In all, there are 30 positions available for volunteers in the American Red Cross, and members of the local chapter can help you find the position that is right for you based on your skills.
4. Ask about training programs offered by the American Red Cross that can help you to be a more specialized volunteer. For instance, you can be trained in how to use a computer, how to perform CPR and how to teach a swimming class to the elderly. You can specify all of this when you complete your volunteer application form.
5. Use the official website of the American Red Cross to fill out the VolunteerMatch application form online (see Resources below). You will them be contacted by phone or email by a local Red Cross chapter with a list of volunteer position for which you may be qualified.
6. Utilize the VolunteerMatch data base to find positions based upon location. You can find the right position by customizing your search based on ZIP code, state or geographical region.

Tips & Warnings

• Volunteers make up 96 percent of the total workforce for the American Red Cross.