American Red Cross 

Volunteer Town Hall:
Operating in the time of 'Safer at Home'

A lot has happened in the past two weeks.

Much has changed for all of us individually, but the Red Cross is finding ways in this unprecedented situation to help our neighbors. We’ve taken a minute to summarize the changes and work at the American Red Cross.

Please RSVP below for the Town Hall to hear from our CEO Jarrett Barrios and learn how you can support our most urgent volunteer needs.

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Town Hall

Join us Monday, March 30, at 7:15 p.m. for the Los Angeles Region Town Hall to learn about operational changes during COVID-19, how the Red Cross is forging ahead in this unprecedented time and how you can help as a volunteer.

RSVP

Los Angeles Unified Feeding

We have an URGENT NEED for Team Leaders to serve as Red Cross points of distribution. We need 20+ Leads daily from 6:15 a.m. to noon at 60+ sites across LA County. If availability and health allows, please register for multiple days. 

Sign Up

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Volunteer Opportunities

In-Person Opportunities
The in-person and virtual opportunities listed below are considered essential functions and are exempt from the 'safer-at-home' order. Please refer to CDC guidance on those who are at higher risk and follow guidance from your local public health department to decide if you are a good fit for these roles.

Blood Donor Screeners: Help check temperatures of blood donors before they enter a blood drive. Must be 18+. Shifts are 4 hours and available 7 days/week.

Blood Donor Ambassadors: Greet and register blood donors and provide snacks post-donation. Shifts are 4 hours and available 7 days/week. Must be 15+.

Transportation Specialists: Transport life-saving blood products to patients in hospitals using a Red Cross van. Shifts are 2-4 hours and available 7 days/week. Must be 21+, able to move boxes up to 45 lbs., and have a valid license. Drive with a friend or family member (13+)! Work at our Culver City or Pomona site.

Disaster Action Team Member: Help Disaster Action Teams respond in-person to support clients displaced by small disasters, such as single-family fires, to provide financial and emotional support.

• San Fernando Valley * Santa Clarita Valley * Antelope Valley

• Glendale * Arcadia * Pomona * San Gabriel Valley

• DTLA * Koreatown * South LA * West LA

• Long Beach * Torrance * South Bay * Compton * Wilmington * Paramount

• East LA * Boyle Heights * Pico Rivera * Commerce * Echo Park * Bell

• Service to the Armed Forces Caseworkers: Ensure that military families know they are supported during the critical times of entering the military and preparing for deployment.Virtual work. 18+

Project Wellness: Call Red Crossers to say "Hello." Please click here to apply. 

State and Local Resources

Following is a list of state and local resources that may be of help.
 
Statewide 

• Know your rights, from paid sick leave to working at home. Here’s a guide to the rights workers have in California.

• Applying for state benefits: Californians can apply for unemployment here, disability or paid family leave here and food assistance here. 

• Resources for seniors in their county: The California Department of Aging contracts with 33 agencies that coordinate a wide array of services to seniors and adults with disabilities at the community level. Find services in your county here.

• The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters. The number for their crisis counseling hotline is (800) 985-5990. 

Los Angeles

• More than 100,000 entertainment industry workers are now out of a job. Here’s a guide to entertainment industry-specific resources.

• Resources for restaurants and workers affected by the coronavirus crisis in L.A.:  A list of resources for hospitality workers. 

• Free food for struggling hospitality workers: Here is a list of L.A. restaurants offering meals for hospitality workers laid off or those who’ve had hours cut due to the shutdown of nonessential businesses.

• An emergency loan program for small business owners in L.A.: Here’s what small businesses need to know about L.A.'s emergency microloans. 

• Los Angeles Unified School District continues to offer grab-and-go meals to all students who need them during the temporary closure of schools. Here’s where the 64 centers to find those meals are located.

• For seniors who need essentials brought to them, here’s a roundup of Southern California organizations ready to help. 

• LAist also has a great general resource list of places offering assistance for Angelenos, from financial assistance to food for adults and kids and other more specific situations.

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SleevesUp Campaign

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Whether the motivation is simply to contribute to the social good, to meaningfully honor someone, to celebrate a birthday or a rebirth after trauma or illness, the American Red Cross is ready to harness the power of the internet for its highest purpose yet — to provide a healthy, ready supply of blood to all who need it.

A lifesaving blood supply is only limited by the reach of the internet. As a SleevesUp virtual blood drive host, you can inspire a network of colleagues and loved ones all over the country to donate blood in a convenient place near them or host virtual drives of their own – all from the comfort of any sofa or chair. No blood mobile or space needed. Rain or shine.
 
Sign up at RedCrossBlood.org/SleevesUp or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.

Sign Up

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Reporting COVID-19

We want to ensure all volunteers from all lines of service have clear instructions on what to do if they are diagnosed with COVID-19 or have been exposed to somebody diagnosed with COVID-19. All employees and volunteers from all Red Cross lines of service in the Los Angeles area:

1. DO NOT report to work, enter any Red Cross building, or report to any Red Cross work site.

2. IMMEDIATELY notify your supervisor. (This includes volunteers: Notify your volunteer supervisor.)

3. IMMEDIATELY email covidreport.la@redcross.org to report the situation. This will ensure our Facilities & Fleet and Operations teams are immediately aware so we can take any necessary follow-up actions, which may include additional targeted disinfection of work sites and ensuring proper HR follow up.

4. In addition, Disaster Staff Support Line (571-353-1661): Available for volunteers 24/7. This line is available to employees and volunteers nationally who are seeking emotional support. This line is staffed by disaster mental health volunteers.   

Training Opportunities

While at home for the next week, this could be your chance to expand your Red Cross knowledge -- Consider taking Disaster Responder Training in EDGE. Become a trained disaster responder, including being a local disaster action team member (DAT), or take online classes to add additional GAPs (Group/Activity/Position).

Sign Up

For questions, contact VolunteerServices.LosAngeles.CA@redcross.org.
 

Volunteer Services

American Red Cross Los Angeles Region