Voluntary Service is a key fundamental principal and a valuable part of the American Red Cross mission. The American Red Cross of Greater Chicago has over 3,000 dedicated men and women who volunteer their time and energy to help us serve our community. 

We would love to have you join our team of committed volunteers.  If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago do a quick self-assessment and follow the easy steps below.

How do you know if you are ready to volunteer? 
We suggest that you do a self-assessment. This will help you decide if the American Red Cross is a good fit for you. We believe that a comprehensive knowledge of our services enhances one's dedication and commitment to the organization. Therefore, an orientation to the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago is required for all staff (paid and volunteer).

Volunteer Self Assessment

Each agency or organization has a unique set of skills and time commitments required of their volunteers. Following is a list of questions to help you decide if the American Red Cross is an appropriate place for you. This self-assessment is for your planning purposes and decision making alone. Be completely honest. Discuss your decision with the important people in your life. Remember that volunteering is a commitment. It is important to find the right place to make that commitment.

1. Often people with good intentions are just too busy to volunteer. Too often individuals will have great intentions but are unable to follow through with their commitment. Many volunteer opportunities call for several hours of consistent time during daytime hours. Do you have room in your life for another commitment?

2. The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers who are responsible and reliable. We rely on volunteers to meet the needs of our clients and customers as well as fulfill administrative gaps for the organization. We count on volunteers to fulfill their promises and complete their job assignments. Without reliable volunteers, disaster victims would not receive immediate assistance, less blood would be collected and lifesaving classes would be cancelled. Is your schedule flexible enough to accommodate this commitment?

3. Many Red Cross opportunities require that you take classes before beginning volunteering. This training often requires travel to different areas. Some jobs will require the completion of multiple courses before you can begin volunteering. Are you willing to take the necessary training in a timely manner?

4. Volunteering for the American Red Cross involves working with people of different ages, socio-economic, cultural, racial, ethnic, religious and educational backgrounds. One of the Fundamental Principals of the American Red Cross/Red Crescent Society is neutrality. Are you comfortable with people who are different from yourself?

5. Typically, the individuals who have been and continue to be successful American Red Cross volunteers possess certain skills/characteristics. Do you consider yourself good at...

• Time management
• Teamwork
• Communication
• Taking Initiative
• Follow up
• Working in stressful situations?

Thanks for taking the time to complete this assessment! If you answered yes to these five questions we encourage you to take the next step to become involved - attend a volunteer orientation session.

If you decide that the American Red Cross is not the best "fit" for you, you may want to research other volunteer opportunities through Volunteer Match - www.volunteermatch.org.  Thank you for your interest in joining the Red Cross team!!