Volunteer Self-Assessment

Whatever your talents...

Whatever your interests...

Whatever your time...

We've got a job for you!

Volunteers are the heart of the American Red Cross. And we'd like you to join us.

We depend on 1.4 million volunteers nationwide and 800 in Pierce County to carry out our mission as the world's leading humanitarian relief agency.

As a Red Cross volunteer, you can serve meals to disaster victims, or help at a special event fundraiser. You can teach CPR, or provide emergency communication for military families.

When you join the Red Cross, you will…

We're flexible to meet your needs. Your duties can be customized to match your schedule, your abilities, and your interests.

Getting Started

It's easy to become a Red Cross volunteer. Look at the list of upcoming Red Cross volunteer orientation dates, select one that you will be able to attend, and call (253) 474-0400 to register. Volunteer orientation provides a brief overview of the organization and volunteer opportunities. If none of the dates listed will work for your schedule, you may arrange to have an individual orientation.

Then, we will take you through a three-step process to determine where you fit in and provide orientation into a rewarding position:

  1. An interview and screening with Volunteer Resources to discuss your interests and availability.
  2. A volunteer orientation to provide an overview of the Red Cross and our Mission.
  3. Once your area of service has been determined, we will continue to work with you to identify additional training and growth opportunities.

The American Red Cross of Tacoma-Pierce County wants to ensure you have a positive experience as a volunteer with our organization. The following is a list of questions used to help potential volunteers decide if opportunities available at the American Red Cross best meets your individual needs and expectations. This self-assessment is to be used for your own planning and decision making purposes. It is important to find the right place to make that commitment and the best match for your skills and talents.

1. People often have the best intentions but are sometimes simply too busy to volunteer. There have been instances where volunteers have been unable to follow through with their commitments.

Please ask yourself if you have room in your life for another commitment?

2. The American Red Cross is seeking volunteers who are responsible and reliable. Some assignments will often vary in where they are located and the amount of time required to complete them, others are regular and constant where volunteers work the same time and same place each week.

Is your schedule flexible enough to accommodate this commitment?

3. Many Red Cross opportunities require that you take classes before beginning volunteering. This training might require traveling to different locations in the area.

Are you willing to take the necessary training?

4. Volunteering for the American Red Cross involves working with people of different ages, sexes, socioeconomic, cultural, racial, ethnic, religious, and educational backgrounds.

Are you comfortable with people who are different from yourself?

5. Typically, the individuals who have been and continue to be successful Red Cross volunteers possess certain skills/characteristics.

Do you consider yourself good at…