by Sarah ThomackSt. Joseph PostThe Red Cross has adapted their volunteer opportunities to create new positions due to COVID-19, along with more virtual opportunities.Red Cross blood drives now have a new volunteer position known as donor screeners who take the temperature of donors coming into the blood drive.Red Cross Senior Volunteer Recruitment Specialist Kristin Pendleton says there are also ways to volunteer from home, including responding to house fires.“One of the virtual opportunities is what we call Duty Officer," Pendleton says. "It’s like a dispatcher and they are there to receive that phone call that there is a family that has been affected by a local disaster and the Duty Officer is that volunteer that takes that call and also organizes the volunteers and also many times is speaking directly with those families, by phone.”Pendleton says the Red Cross is hosting a virtual Volunteer Fair on Zoom. 'Experience the Mission' is a 30 to 45-minute session held every other week where individuals can learn more about volunteer opportunities.“It’s an opportunity to learn a little bit about the 139-year rich history of the American Red Cross, but more importantly how the Red Cross helps in your community and how you can help,” Pendleton says. “It’s a great opportunity to find out just how little time it takes to have an enormous impact in your local community.”&nbsp;The next session will be at 10 a.m. on July 7th. <a href="https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org/?nd=vms_public_form&amp;form_id=8042">Click here</a> for a full list of dates and to sign up.

Red Cross offers more virtual volunteer opportunities