CINCINNATI — As many nonprofits go back to pre-pandemic operations, they are hoping to get more volunteers back.

For the Red Cross, the need for volunteers is higher than ever.

What You Need To Know

  • The Red Cross is in dire need of volunteers across the state

  • Randy Sprague started volunteering for the Red Cross in 2019

  • Sprague is on the Disaster Action Team, which serves disasters locally, as well as a Disaster Responder, who deploys to natural disasters across the country

  • Blood transportation volunteers and disaster health service volunteers are also greatly needed in Ohio

Randy Sprague makes sure everything is ready whenever a disaster may strike-from comfort kits to blankets.

That’s because Sprague is a disaster action team member and disaster responder with the American Red Cross. From local fires to the Dayton tornadoes and California wildfires, he’s seen it all.

“We’re going to help people know that they can recover in the next 24-48 hours," Sprague said.

But as Sprague is now familiar with the Red Cross, he remembers the days when he wasn’t sure how to help.

“Any time you see a disaster, locally and nationally, you always want to help out," he said. "But I always feel like I would show up and I’d be in the way.”

The Red Cross needs more volunteers like Sprague both locally and to deploy to natural disasters, and now is the time to sign up so you can help when those disasters strike.

“For us, it’s really important that people sign up now," said Stephanie Byrd, the regional CEO for the Central and Southern Ohio Red Cross. "We know our more active season is coming, and it’s better to have people signed up now so we can get them trained and they’re ready to go when the disaster happens.”

Sprague said the time commitment is as much as you want to give, and while sometimes you may be called in the middle of the night for a house fire, he remembers just how big of a help he will be to those people on their worst day.

“This little inconvenience is nothing compared to what these people are facing," Sprague said. "If I can help them begin their recovery, that’s a great thing for me.”

There are specific needs across the state including blood donor drivers in Columbus and Cleveland, and more disaster action team members, who stay to help with disasters locally in Cincinnati as well as across the state. There's also a great need for licensed medical professionals to volunteer in disaster health services. Click here for the most-needed volunteer positions.