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Volunteer Now

Voluntary Service is a key fundamental principal of the American Red Cross, and volunteers are at the heart of our mission. At the Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter, the caring hearts and helping hands of 2500 volunteers are essential to providing vital programs and services within the 15-county metro area. The fact that 96% of the American Red Cross workforce is comprised of volunteers means that we can stretch donated dollars to successfully meet the needs of our community. Volunteers from all walks of life are involved in every aspect of the organization - from the front lines of a disaster to behind-the-scenes office support.

Volunteers are always needed to:

  • Respond to disasters locally or nationally
  • Assist with blood drives
  • Educate the community on safety and disaster preparedness issues
  • Provide office support
  • Teach health and safety classes like First Aid and CPR
  • Help during special events such as telethons
  • And much more

Become a Volunteer
Becoming a Red Cross volunteer is easy. We provide a general orientation to the entire organization, as well as intensive training specific to each position. Just follow these steps to get started:

  1. Volunteer Opportunities: View a description of each volunteer position and choose one or two that fit your skills and schedule.
  2. Download a Registration Form: Download and print our volunteer registration form, then fill it out with your contact information, skills, and the opportunities that interest you. Don't forget to sign the Code of Conduct as well as the Confidential Information and Intellectual Property Agreement.
  3. Submit the Registration Form: Fax or mail the completed application to:

    FAX: 404-575-3073

    Volunteer Services
    Metropolitan Atlanta Chapter
    1955 Monroe Drive, NE
    Atlanta , GA 30324
     
  4. Interview: When your completed application is received, we will contact you to schedule an interview and orientation.
  5. Criminal Background Check: All employees and volunteers of the American Red Cross must successfully complete a nation-wide criminal background check through a single, mandatory vendor (MyBackgroundCheck.com) before they begin their service. This vendor was chosen for its reputation of maintaining a high level of security. Social Security numbers are encrypted immediately so that no one - including the chapter administrator and vendor employees - can view them. You can also be assured that your background check will not include a credit check. The Red Cross has only authorized verification of your Social Security number and a search of the National Criminal File (for the past seven years).

Local Happenings
To say that the 2005 hurricane season was an active one is certainly an understatement! In July, nearly 300 local Red Cross volunteers responded to major flooding in metro Atlanta due to Tropical Storm Cindy and Hurricane Dennis. Four shelters were opened for the many people that were displaced from their homes. Our volunteers assisted more than 300 families--providing individual client services, snacks and meals, and information at a call center.

After Hurricane Katrina made landfall in August, volunteers and staff were busier than ever helping the record number of displaced people who fled to Atlanta. Not only previously trained Red Cross disaster volunteers but also thousands of brand new volunteers rolled up their sleeves to help these new neighbors. The outpouring of generosity from the community was overwhelming. Tens of thousands of concerned citizens called and e-mailed the Red Cross to offer their services. In total, more than 8,300 people actively volunteered for the Red Cross relief effort.

Volunteers were involved in all types of roles: providing financial assistance; working in shelters where thousands of people found temporary housing; providing snacks and meals; giving out information at the Call Centers; assisting with paperwork behind the scenes; and much more. Thanks to the help of these generous volunteers, the Red Cross was able to run the largest relief operation in local and state history. The numbers speak for themselves:

  • More than 350,000 hot meals and snacks were served locally
  • Nearly 300,000 callers were provided with information locally
  • More than 3,000 evacuees were accommodated in 22 shelters statewide
  • More than 8,600 people were provided with mental health services statewide
  • $44.4 million in financial assistance was distributed to more than 43,000 families statewide

While this extraordinary work was being done, local disaster action team members were also responding to the daily community needs of families affected by house and apartment fires. Hundreds of Atlanta-area residents received Red Cross assistance such as with food, clothing, and shelter following smaller-scale disasters. Volunteers were involved with every disaster response.