How You Can Start Volunteering By Using the Team Red Cross App

The American Red Cross recently launched the Team Red Cross App, which allows people to sign up to help, get an overview on basic tasks and receive notifications about Red Cross disaster volunteer opportunities in their community. Often when a disaster strikes, people in the community want to help but may not know how. The Team Red Cross App puts the power to help in people’s hands.

First, people create an account. Then they learn about different jobs, such as working in a warehouse, handing out supplies or assisting with feeding. When the Red Cross has a need for volunteers, users will receive a notification based on their location. People can instantly accept or decline the volunteer opportunity.

Through lists of simple steps, short videos and quizzes, you will receive a quick orientation—right on your phone—before you show up for a Red Cross volunteer job.

The app is free and designed for iPhone and Android smart phones and tablets. Additional features include:

• Ability for people to share notifications for volunteers with their social network.

• Earn digital “badges” by completing a job test, accepting a job, sharing the app, recruiting volunteers, etc. The “badges” can then be shared with their social network.

• Allows people to donate money to the Red Cross and sign up to donate blood.
• Offers emergency response information that people can share with their friends at the touch of a button.

The Team Red Cross App is the seventh in a series of highly successful Red Cross apps, which are now on more than 3 million mobile devices across the country. More than 400,000 people downloaded the Hurricane App during Superstorm Sandy. Right before and during Sandy, users spent the most time reading the preparedness information, tracking the storm, and reading and then sharing NOAA alerts through social media.

You don’t have to be an experienced volunteer to download the app. Even if you are new, there are job overviews, short videos and quizzes you can use to get a better understanding of what Team Red Cross does. Team Red Cross is looking for people with different backgrounds, talent, and skill levels. The Team Red Cross App can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps.