Redican 1

Kayce Redican

Mr. John Schreiber

Senior Seminar

27 April 2018

American Red Cross:

Volunteering for Over a Century

Thirty minutes to donate blood is all it takes to save a life. The simple act can make a

huge difference to someone who needs it most. The Red Cross is primarily a humanitarian

organization. It also organizes volunteers to help others when there is a major disaster.

The Red Cross is not just an organization that provides relief for major disasters and help.

After all, according to Wikipedia, “It is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency

assistance, disaster relief, and education in the United States.” The American Red Cross’s

mission statement is “The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the

face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”

Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross on May 21, 1881 and led the Red Cross

for 23 years (Redcross.org). The Red Cross Network was inspired by the Swiss. The Swiss

(Switzerland) flag is red with a white cross in the middle, hence the meaning behind the Red

Cross symbol by inverting the colors of the Swiss flag to represent the Red Cross logo. The Red

Cross is always and will be easy to spot is to give help to those in need. The first disaster that the

Red Cross responded to was on September 4, 1881, when the Red Cross aided victims of a forest

fire in Michigan. On September 8, 1900, it was Barton’s last relief, aiding the victims of the

devastating hurricane and tidal wave that hit Galveston, Texas (Redcross.org). Later, the Red

Cross made a huge impact when President Theodore Roosevelt called on the Red Cross to lead a
 Redican 2

relief effort because an earthquake and fire destroyed San Francisco on April 18, 1906 (Red

Cross Timeline). With hurricanes and tidal waves and earthquakes and fires, the Red Cross

needed help to assist those in need.

After the First World War started, the Red Cross had local chapters increase from 107

chapters in 1914 to 3,864 chapters in 1918. Membership grew from 17,000 to over 20 million

adult members and 11 million junior Red Cross members. They later “provided relief for victims

of such major disasters as the Mississippi River floods in 1927 and severe drought and the

Depression during the 1930s” (“A Brief History of the American Red Cross”). During the

Second World War, the U.S. Military needed supplies for American and allied prisoners of war.

Blood was the most important thing that the Red Cross wanted. Nationally there were over

thirteen million pints of blood collected.

The American Red Cross continues to be a big part of history by helping people with

anything and everything. The Red Cross aided victims of the sinking of the Titanic, the attack on

Pearl Harbor, and then helped victims of earthquakes, hurricanes, floods, fires, bombings and

terrorist attacks, typhoons, and any other major event that kills and injures a massive amount of

people. The government acknowledges the Red Cross as the best-equipped agency to feed,

shelter, and handle casework for victims of major disasters. Today the Red Cross also provides a

wide range of services from nutritional education, to health professional training, to famine

relief, and blood collection (Gilbo). The Red Cross collects more than six million pints of blood

yearly, so they created an app for people to schedule an appointment to donate blood.

Technology has had a huge impact on the Red Cross. On May 28, 2012, the Red Cross

launched the first American Red Cross smartphone app. It was created to help people learn and

practice first aid. A couple of months later on July 28, 2012, the Red Cross launched another
 Redican 3

app. The new app provides the user of information about hurricanes and is “used to help people

prepare, stay safe during, and recover from hurricanes” (“Red Cross Timeline”). The Red Cross

launched another app the next year; it was a blood donor app. Using this, people can schedule an

appointment to donate blood with this new app. Living in all parts of the United States people

never know that the weather will be like as it could be seventy degrees out one day, the next

three days could be a snowstorm, so it is better to be safe than sorry. Also, with the app, when a

person donates blood, the person can track where the blood goes to the person in need.

The Red Cross has many volunteers to help when there is a major disaster. On average,

there are about one million volunteers that help with the Red Cross yearly (“A Brief History of

the American Red Cross”). Red Cross volunteers can host a blood drive, donate blood, tissue, or

plasma. A Brief History of the American Red Cross says, “Forty percent of blood in the United

States is from the American Red Cross. Community-based centers supply fifty percent while six

percent is collected directly by hospitals.” Redcross.org states, “When a major disaster happens,

we provided shelter, food, health and mental health services to help families and entire

communities to get back on their feet.”

The Red Cross believes that people come first and politics last (Gilbo 19). The Red Cross

serves all people regardless of their politics, creed, or color. The Red Cross does not care who

the victims are and what background history victims have, as long as they can provide support

and help people through disasters they are happy. When people donate blood, there are basic

health history questions asked; otherwise the Red Cross is just happy that people are donating

blood to help others in need. If the Red Cross only helped those who hold certain beliefs or

political views, its volunteers would be endangered by war-devastated areas.

 Redican 4

The Red Cross will always need volunteers to help at various things such as blood drives

or after a major disaster happens. According to author Sarah Donovan who wrote, Volunteering

Smarts, “In 2010, twenty-six percent of all teens volunteered in their community.” To begin

volunteering, people can see what is going on in their community by looking at newspapers,

websites, television, and billboards. When teens start to volunteer, they do not stop. No matter

where people live, people will always need help. The best way to volunteer is to find something

that one is interested in. If someone enjoys volunteering, the person can ask family and friends to

volunteer with the person as it will make an impact. Donovan also said, “In April of 2009,

United States President Barack Obama called on all Americans to step up and serve their

communities and their country. He signed the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.” This

law was created to expand community service for Americans to volunteer. President Obama said,

“The goal is for all middle school and high school students to complete fifty hours of community

service per year.” If teenagers volunteer about five hours every month that school is in session,

they will complete the fifty hours.

Volunteering through the Red Cross can help a person discover what the volunteer’s true

passion is. If someone likes animals, that person can volunteer at a local animal shelter. If

someone is interested in going into the medical field after high school, that individual can

volunteer at a local clinic or hospital. By volunteering with the Red Cross the individual can

learn new skills such as leadership, teamwork, time management, communication and planning.

When an individual finds something that they are really passionate about, that person will

become a tree. It will branch out no matter how old it actually is. That individual will learn skills

they never that they never thought about. When one volunteers he or she will gain experience

and explore career options, as well as meet new people and gain confidence. When people
 Redican 5

volunteer, they can learn so many different things that will help them in their future. Sarah

Donovan said, “Thirty-nine percent of children ages eight to fourteen say that they would

volunteer their time by helping natural disaster victims; while 38 percent of children say that

they would volunteer their time of doing environmental clean-up” (23). After someone finds a

volunteer opportunity, he or she should try contacting the person in charge and ask questions.

Organizations will be happy that a teen wants to make a difference in the community. Donovan

said, “Every time you donate your time, you’re working for change. You’re benefiting yourself

and others. By showing passion and support for something that you love, shows adults that you

care about improving the world.”

Mary Gillard, a community member of West Concord, Minnesota, has hosted 108 blood

drives and is not done yet. Gillard stated, “I like hosting blood drives because I am able to do

something for others and I get to visit with people.” Currently, there is a critical need for blood

and there will always be a need for blood. The community of West Concord hosted a blood drive

many years ago in honor of a community member who passed away due to kidney disease. The

blood drive collected around one hundred forty units of blood (Gillard). Gillard enjoyed seeing

the community come together in honor of the community member. Gillard also said, “When a

teenager hosts a blood drive I am absolutely impressed! Many people in their mid-twenties don’t

want to even donate. So it’s great seeing the younger generation step up and make a difference.”

As Mahatma Gandhi, a leader of the Indian Independence movement, once said, “Be the change

you wish to see in the world.” When one person or an entire community comes together, great

things can happen and change will take place for the better.

The Red Cross will always need help in the future. In 1904, Barton said, “It is not in its

past that the glories or benefits of the Red Cross lie, but in the opportunities, it has created for the
 Redican 6

future.” Barton’s statement is still true today as the Red Cross will continue to help those in

need. The Red Cross will be there in future situations as it provides relief for earthquakes,

hurricanes, floods, and bombings (Gilbo 85). If humans need help from any disaster, humans

expect the Red Cross to be there. The Red Cross would like to focus more on safety education

programs. The main concern is helping Americans get ready for disasters. Another thing that

they have to manage is maintaining disaster funds and making sure that they have enough money

to help people in disastrous situations (87). In Africa, the Red Cross donates food and creates

projects for the crops to be good to eat. The American Red Cross in the United States will have

to help homeless and unemployed workers (86). They will also need to continue to inform people

about AIDS prevention and find a cure. In the near future, two of the Red Cross’s biggest

objectives should be to find new blood donors and continue to encourage donors that donate

blood.

The Red Cross accepts anyone who is willing to volunteer. The volunteer’s time and

money make this organization work out wonderfuly. According to the Red Cross website,

The Red Cross will always be at disasters to help people in need. Every individual that is

affected by a disaster can still have hope and shelter with the Red Cross. No matter the situation,

they will be there ready to help. When Donna Fitzgerald donated blood in February, she found

out that her blood went to Saint Cloud, Minnesota. The Red Cross is able to send blood and

supplies all over the state (“Mission and Values”).

The American Red Cross is able to rely on volunteers and the public just as the public

relies on the Red Cross for help after disasters. The Red Cross started on May 21, 1881, since

then, the Red Cross has had volunteers to rely on. Looking toward the future, the Red Cross will

always need volunteers and society will need volunteers as well.

 Redican 7

Works Cited
 Redican 8

“A Brief History of the American Red Cross.” Redcross.org. Web. 12 February 2018.

<embed.widencdn.net/pdf/plus/americanredcross/uua0vkekh3/history-full-

history.pdf?u=0aormr>.

“American Red Cross.” Wikipedia, 23 February 2018. Web. 24 February 2018.

<En.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Red_Cross>.

Donovan, Sandra. Volunteering Smarts: How to Find Opportunities, Create a Positive

Experience, and More. Twenty-First Century Books, 2013. Print. 14 February 2018.

Fitzgerald, Donna. Personal interview. 19 March 2018.

Gilbo, Patrick F. The American Red Cross. Chelsea House Publishers, 1987. 14 February 2018.

Gillard, Mary. Personal interview. 24 February 2018.

“Mission and Values.” Redcross.org. Web. 20 April 2018.

<http://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/mission-and-values>.

“Red Cross Timeline.” Redcross.org. Web. 25 February 2018.

<http://www.redcross.org/about-us/who-we-are/history/significant-dates>.

“12 Benefits of Volunteering That Will Change Your Life!” Richmond Vale Academy. Web. 11

April 2017. 26 March 2018. <Richmondvale.org/benefits-of-volunteering/>.