Are you a student interested in helping others and making your community a better place to live? 

If so, start or join a Red Cross Club today!

Red Cross Clubs are a team effort, where Red Cross units and youth work together to make their communities and the world a better place and where young people develop leadership skills. A Red Cross club is sponsored by a mentor, usually a teacher from your school or a leader in your community. If you do not have a club in your area, you may want to approach someone you think is the right person for the task and see if he or she will help you get started. 

Red Cross Club Vision
To involve youth within the American Red Cross of St. Joseph County in meaningful ways, while meeting the mission of the American Red Cross in the community and inspiring youth to be part of the Red Cross team for life.

The American Red Cross of St. Joseph County will engage Red Cross Clubs and youth in the following ways:

• Community Education
  • Kids’ Safety Programs
  • Community Disaster Education
  • HIV/AIDS Education
  • First Aid and CPR
• Peer Education
  • Training high school students to become peer presenters in the programs listed above
  • Involving students in Red Cross activities  
• Service Projects
  • Helping the community through service

Red Cross Club Training Series
This American Red Cross program challenges youth to become leaders and develop effective speaking and facilitation skills.  All club members are required to learn about the Red Cross and the local chapter through an Intro to the Red Cross Training (administered by the American Red Cross of St. Joseph County).  Additionally, members can enhance their skills by completing one or more of the following:

• HIV/AIDS Instructors - This class takes on the serious topic of HIV/AIDS, its transmission, treatment, etc.  After completing the training you will be able to give presentations in HIV/AIDS to schools, family, friends, community organizations, etc.  Great for people considering working anywhere in the medical field and/or social environments.
• Community Disaster Education Presenters - After completing this course you will be able to teach others how to prevent, prepare for and respond to a disaster of any kind.  Floods, winter storms, tornadoes, fires, and power outages are all very real disasters that occur in our immediate areas.
• Kid Safety Presenters - This class is great for future teachers, day care managers, scout leaders and lifeguards.  After completing this course you will be able to teach young children one or more of the following courses:
  • Scrubby Bear
  • Sesame Street presents Let's Get Ready
  • Masters of Disaster
  • Seemore the Safety Seal
  • WHALE Tales (Water Safety)

Who Does What in the Club: Roles and Responsibilities

Red Cross clubs are a team effort, with the Red Cross Unit, the sponsoring organization and the students all working together, enabling young people to make their community a healthier and safer place while developing leadership skills for today and the future.

Red Cross Club Sponser
The Red Cross Club Sponsor is the adult leader of the club – a very important job.  Whether the sponsor was appointed or volunteered for this assignment, he or she is a significant link between the needs of the club members and the answers from the American Red Cross, as well as a liaison between the sponsoring organization and the needs of the club.

Club sponsors guide young people in their Red Cross activities and help to make these activities a meaningful part of their lives.  A sponsor’s enthusiasm and interest are essential for a successful experience for the club members. The  Sponsor will:

• Serve as a liaison between the sponsoring organization and the American Red Cross of St. Joseph County 
• Guide the youth leaders of the club 
• Interpret the values of youth participation in the American Red Cross to the sponsoring organization's leadership 
• Assist teachers with tying Red Cross programs and activities to school curriculum Guide the youth leaders in the club
• Serve as a volunteer, representing the American Red Cross

Red Cross Club Members
Red Cross Club members are American Red Cross youth or young adult members interested in carrying out the mission of the American Red Cross in their communities. Club Members will:

• Form the working body of the club
• Provide Red Cross Services, touching the lives of others in their communities
• Identify the needs and determine projects that they would like to work on to help meet those needs
• Lead the club, working with the Red Cross Club sponsor and the American Red Cross of St. Joseph County as necessary
• Represent the American Red Cross as volunteers

Role of the American Red Cross of St. Joseph County:

• Provide a liaison to the club, bringing up-to-date information about resources, Red Cross programs/services and other support as needed
• Empowers both the sponsor and the club members to carry out Red Cross service projects
• Orients the club sponsor
• Provides Red Cross training where appropriate
• Works with the club sponsor planning suitable recognition for the members
• Provides the club visibility by coordinating public relations efforts to spread the word about good things the club is doing
• Assists the club sponsor with evaluating the success of the club

During the school year, each club will be responsible for:

• Recruiting staff and students to build capacity for Red Cross programs
• Promoting Red Cross month in March
• Generating PR for your club
• Participating in Red Cross sponsored meetings
• Submitting monthly club activity reports

For a listing of current clubs click HERE