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| Sandra Santiago-Proud Volunteer |
Community members from all areas throughout the Central Valley either come through our office or have experienced the services offered from the American Red Cross and are inspired to volunteer and give back their most precious resource; their time. During August 2010 I met Sandra and she has been an absolute joy and resourceful addition to our many volunteer teams!
Sandra is one of our Local Heroes with a heart that is as big, if not bigger, than the six counties our Chapter serves. Sandra comes to the American Red Cross with a passion for Public Health and Safety Education. She is the President of the Public Health and Safety Club and the Chair of the Student Health Advisory Board which is the liaison between students and the campus health center at California State University, Fresno. Sandra began her volunteer career as our Community Ambassador attending local Community Events and Health Fairs educating our community about our services. While continuing to attend events on our behalf, Sandra pursued the Fundamentals of Instrutor Training to become our Volunteer Instructor for CPR/First aid classes. Sandra is now pursuing the training to teach our HIV/Aids Educational course.
Along with finishing her Bachelors of Science in Public Health with Community Health option, Sandra has found the perfect fit with our organization in educating her community members on the importance of preparedness and our services. Despite Sandra's busy schedule with work, school and personal commitments, one may wonder why she gives her extra time to the American Red Cross? We were curious too....so we asked her. Here is her response:
"I volunteer with the American Red Cross because I know that I am making a difference. If I just help one person who helps someone else I have made a small difference in the world. I feel that in order to make a change in the world it starts with just one person and with American Red Cross I feel that I have a better reach to the community. If I am instructing a CPR class or just providing information I feel better because I know that I am making a difference for the future." -Sandra, November 2010.
Whether you are a stay at home mom, accountant, student, trainer, real estate agent, secretary, farmer or school teacher...you have the skills that we are looking for! Becoming a volunteer for the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter is as easy as 1-2-3....
STEP 1
VOLUNTEER APPLICATION & ONLINE BACKGROUND CHECK: Print and submit your completed volunteer application to our office by mail or fax. You can complete your online background check at: https://www.mybackgroundcheck.com/order/arcvts/
STEP 2
MEET AND GREET: Once our office receives your application, our Volunteer Coordinator will contact you to set up a time to meet. The purpose of the “meet and greet” or “volunteer interview” is to get a better understanding of your areas of interest and where we can match your skills with a volunteer assignment.
STEP 3
NEW VOLUNTEER ORIENTATION, FULFILLING OUR MISSION CLASS: Attend a 3 hour group orientation course that will introduce volunteers to the role of the Red Cross in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from emergencies and disasters. We ask all volunteers to complete this orientation to further familiarize you with all of our services. You never know when a disaster will strike at home…. and we will need your help during a local disaster.
If you are interested in becoming a member of our Disaster Action Team, there is are additional steps to complete: Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) Paperwork and additional Disaster Action Team (DAT) training.
Contact our Volunteer Coordinator, Anya Goosev, to become apart of our team!
