Needs From: United Way of Southeast Minnesota

The holiday season is a time for festivities and family. It’s also a time for giving. This year, you can give a meaningful gift that helps people through some of life’s toughest moments. From helping people impacted by disasters, like home fires and floods, to supporting lifesaving blood donations, you can make a difference. The need for volunteers remains critical and constant during the holiday season.

Consider giving the gift of time with one of our urgently needed volunteer opportunities:

Disaster Action Team

Every 8 minutes the Red Cross responds to a disaster and it’s the compassionate volunteers, who make our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering possible.  When you become a volunteer, you’re helping to turn tragedy into hope.

 

Blood Donor Ambassador

Every 2 seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.  The need for blood is constant and so is the need for volunteers at our Blood Drives to help save lives.

 

If interested Click Here to apply or visit www.redcross.org/givetime

For questions or more information email mndakvolunteer@redcross.org or call 612-463-6587

Help your community out by resolving to volunteer on the disaster action team!

To participate in all DAT program support and capacity building activities necessary to ensure effective service delivery during a disaster response.

Responsibilities:

Disaster Action Teams provide emergency response to local disasters, particularly house fires, ensuring that those affected have access to resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. 

This position is responsible for the tasks involved in the Disaster Action Team program including:

1. Supporting the annual goals and regional/chapter plan for DAT services through participation in meetings, projects, and local response activities.
2. Completes all required training and maintains current training standard as DAT program requirements change.
3. Attends regular team meetings and training as required by the region/territory.
4. Completes assigned projects and local response activities according to the needs of the DAT program.

Preparing vehicles, response materials, administrative support of the DAT program and other tasks assigned by the DAT Leader.

Time Commitment:  Preferred four 6-hour on-call shifts per month. Shifts are 6 am - Noon, Noon to 6 pm, 6 pm to Midnight and Midnight to 6 am.

Qualifications:

• Follow and execute requests received from supervisor with little or no supervision. 
• Adapt to change, negotiate compromise and tolerate ambiguity. 
• Build effective relationships with others who can help with work-related goals. 

 

To get started Click Here. Once there scroll down to DAT (Disaster Action Team Member) and select Apply Now!

 

If you have any questions please email us at mndakvolunteer@redcross.org or call 612-463-6587

Do you want to help with lifesaving blood collections? Volunteer at blood drives throughout the Southeast MN area! 

The American Red Cross has a high-priority need for Blood Donor Ambassadors to continue delivering services to our communities.

These volunteers welcome visitors to blood drives, follow COVID-19 safety procedures, help donors check in and encourage them to rest after their donation. We can use your help right now!

Click Here to sign up or learn more.

 

If you're interested or have questions, please contact Volunteer Services (mndakvolunteer@redcross.org; 612-463-6587).

Volunteer Screeners Needed

Looking for phone or interview skills? The Red Cross has the perfect volunteer opportunity for you! If you enjoy speaking to interesting people and want to volunteer from home, join our Volunteer Screening Team. Bonus if you can speak a second language!

Screening Team members seek to understand what brought prospective volunteers to the Red Cross, their areas of interest and what position they would find most meaningful. Screeners use their understanding of the volunteer and match it with the needs of the organization, connecting volunteers with positions for which they are both interested and well suited

CLICK HERE TO APPLY

Questions? Contact MNDAKVolunteer@redcross.org or call 612-463-6587

This position supports the Regional Disaster Cycle Services department. Ensures timely activation and monitoring of local and regional Disaster Action Team (DAT) responses. The Duty Officer supports the DAT program either at the chapter/territory or region level.

Key Responsibilities Dispatch DAT members and monitor the response to ensure appropriate resources are made available. Activate Disaster Health Services, Disaster Mental Health, and Disaster Spiritual Care, Public Affairs when requested. Documents incoming disaster notification and creates & verifies events in RC Respond. May be required to monitor activity across multiple DAT responses. Notify Chapter and Regional staff of significant events, and contribute to an Initial Incident Report, when appropriate. Attends regularly scheduled team/DAT meetings as required by Chapter/Region. Qualifications Willingness to comply with Red Cross COVID-19 policies for in-person volunteer activities. G/A/P of RES/DAT/SA or above Demonstrated leadership and communication skills Demonstrated commitment to mission of the American Red Cross Ability to remotely monitor and track details of DAT responses Ability to prioritize multiple tasks in complex and stressful situations Proficient with Red Cross systems and online interfaces Sit and/or stand for minimum two-hour periods Work for long periods on computer Speak clearly on the phone and in person

Any questions or to learn more please email MNDAKVolunteer@redcross.org or call 612-463-6587