April 18-24 is National Volunteer Week, and the American Red Cross would like to recognize the invaluable contributions of its Volunteers.

The Red Cross of Tompkins County has over 400 volunteers working day and night to help our community prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Constituting 97 percent of the Red Cross work force, these generous people embody the organizations highest principles, and are our greatest resource. We are grateful to volunteers who fulfill our mission, and who carry on our humanitarian work.

Our Disaster Action Team members are on-call around the clock, poised to respond to house fires or other emergencies, and, in the last year have assisted in 46 local, and 23 national disasters.

Health and Safety volunteers act as leaders in the community as they teach the lifesaving skills necessary in an emergency. In 2003, they have trained more than 6,000 people in CPR, First Aid and AED, as well as lifeguard skills and aquatics training.

Last year, over 8,300 caring individuals like you helped save nearly 25,000 lives by donating their blood. Each blood donation takes an hour of volunteer time, and has the potential of saving up to three lives.

Red Cross volunteers have also offered comfort to hundreds of homeless individuals and families in Tompkins County. Acts as simple as singing carols at our Holiday Party or spending time at our Friendship Center can make the world of difference to someone down on their luck, as they strive to regain housing and employment.

Something particularly pleasing is to know that, for most volunteers, the time put in at the Red Cross is a rewarding experience. In this year's volunteer satisfaction survey, 97 percent of volunteers agreed that the Red Cross is an excellent place to offer service, and that volunteer jobs offer a sense of accomplishment. Ninety-eight percent would recommend volunteering at the Red Cross to a friend. Those data are terrific!

The theme for this year's National Volunteer Week is Inspire by Example. Red Cross volunteers do that every day. You can be proud of the work you've done for your communities, and to help the people living in them. We would not be able to fulfill our mission without you. Thank you for your work, and your dedication to Red Cross.

Click HERE to learn about more Red Cross volunteer opportunities.