American Red Cross offers volunteer opportunities for service, family members Published Aug. 30, 2010 By 1st Lt. Cammie Quinn 35th Fighter Wing, Public Affairs MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- With more than 190 active volunteers, the American Red Cross at Misawa is an organization unlike many others. The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief, and health and safety education. According to its Web site, the American Red Cross offers services in five areas: community services that help the needy; communications services and comfort for military members and their family members; the collection, processing and distribution of blood and blood products; educational programs on preparedness, health and safety; and international relief and development programs. At Misawa, the American Red Cross benefits the base community by providing volunteer opportunities, health and safety classes, and emergency response messages for service members. "Volunteering is a huge part of what we do here," Victoria Harvey, Red Cross chairman of volunteers, said. "We do all of the volunteer coordination within the hospital." Volunteers are active throughout most Misawa functions, Mrs. Harvey added, to include annual air festivals and the animal shelter, PAWS Misawa. The Red Cross also places doctors and nurses who are willing to donate their time into the Misawa Hospital, where they are able to maintain their licenses by volunteering as healthcare providers. "Spouses of service members may not be able to find work while here and want to maintain their licenses," Sara Marshall, Red Cross office assistant, said. "To stay up to date, they volunteer in the Misawa Hospital." Red Cross volunteers work throughout the hospital. "We have volunteers in the radiology, maternity and newborn departments of the hospital," Mrs. Harvey said. The team is excited to have received an optometrist on base who will begin volunteering soon, she added. For the younger members of Team Misawa, the Red Cross offers a few ways to keep busy during the summer while learning about potential future careers. A breakthrough job placement program aligned children with their interests within the Air Force, Kathryn Lasky, Red Cross public relations chairman, said. "This year was the first for our summer youth program," she added. "Children were placed in different departments throughout the hospital and post office to help with various tasks." One volunteer even helped her assigned department during a surprise inspection. "The personnel in radiology were able to accomplish what they needed, while the volunteer was there to help greet patients," Mrs. Marshall said. Twelve children, ages 15-18 were involved in the summer long program. The program is expected to continue in summer 2011. "The Red Cross is a diverse organization," Mrs. Lasky said. "Typically the first thing that comes to mind when thinking about the Red Cross is donating blood, but at Misawa, blood services are accomplished by the Armed Forces Blood Services program. However, we're able to work with our sister organization, the Japanese Red Cross Society, on various projects." The Red Cross takes a direct role in assisting the service member before, during and after deployments and hosts an international emergency messaging system. The armed forces emergency message is a system in which the Red Cross acts as third party to get emergency information to the service member. Information is verified by the Red Cross and given to the service member's command to make leave decisions. The message can be used to alert members about birth of child, a family illness or death. Volunteering with the American Red Cross is as easy as making a phone call, and can be a good way to meet others at Misawa, Mrs. Harvey said. "Volunteering with the Red Cross gives family members the opportunity to get to know the military base and meet really nice people," she said. "If you're not able to find a job, you can volunteer in so many places throughout the organization. It links family members to military community." To volunteer with the Red Cross, or for more information, call 226-3016.