Be There When Your Community Needs You: Shelter Volunteer - Sheltering (Benton Co.)

When disaster strikes, a safe place to stay can make all the difference. The American Red Cross is seeking compassionate volunteers to support disaster shelters across Central and Southeastern Washington.

Shelter volunteers help create a safe, welcoming environment for people who have been displaced by a disaster. You’ll work alongside other Red Cross volunteers to support shelter residents and help the shelter operate smoothly.

What You’ll Do

• Welcome and assist people arriving at the shelter
• Help residents understand available shelter services and resources
• Provide a friendly, compassionate presence to people experiencing a difficult time
• Assist with registration and basic shelter activities
• Help maintain a safe, organized, and welcoming shelter environment
• Support distribution of supplies such as food, water, comfort items, and other resources
• Assist with shelter setup, operations, and closing as needed
• Work as part of a team to meet the needs of shelter residents

What We’re Looking For

• You don’t need previous disaster response experience. Training is provided.
• We’re looking for people who are compassionate, dependable, patient, and comfortable interacting with people from diverse backgrounds. You should be able to remain calm in stressful situations, work well as part of a team, and provide respectful support to people who may be experiencing significant disruption in their lives.

We are especially seeking volunteers who are bilingual in English and Spanish to help support and connect with our diverse community.

Learn more and apply at redcross.org/volunteer