Since the founding of the Junior Red Cross in 1917, youth and the Red Cross have been partners. Today, the involvement of young people with the Red Cross is more important than ever. Our goal is to provide young people with meaningful opportunities for education, training and volunteer/community service so that they remain a part of the Red Cross family throughout their lives. Young people up to age 24 make up 35 percent of all Red Cross volunteers.

It's easy to get involved. Please see our list of projects and youth courses, and then contact the Summit office at (908) 273-2076 for complete details and registration.

Community Service Projects for Youth

Armed Forces Emergency Services

• Smiles Overseas: Write letters to military personnel overseas.
• Touch of Home: Collect items for homecoming and outgoing troops. Click here to see a list of items (pdf).
• Veteran Hospital Projects: Make craft items: birthday and holiday cards, gift tags, grooming kits, writing kits, bookmarks and more!
• Production Ladies: Collect new or gently work bath towels for use at Lyon's Hospital. These towels are sewn by Red Cross volunteers into bibs for veterans.

Please contact the chapter before beginning any project for veterans as there is sometimes a hold on items being shipped overseas.

Blood Services

• Host a Blood Drive: Help the thousands of patients who need blood each day by sponsoring a blood drive.
• Thank you!: Make thank you cards for blood donors to be given out at blood drives.

Disaster Services

• After a Fire: Distribute fire safety information in neighborhoods that have recently experienced a fire.
• Beat the Heat Safety Fans: Make durable fans that include Beat the Heat safety tips.
• Save-a-Life Through the Mail: Provide life-saving information to friends, family and others in need.

Health and Safety Services

• "Dress Up" Health and Safety: Collect new or gently used "onesies" for our 3 to 6 month old manikins.
• First Aid Kit Collection and Assembly: Make first aid kits for the classroom or for those in need.
• Heart Healthy Valentines: Design health heart valentines with heart safety tips.
• Read All About It!: Make bulletin boards teaching Red Cross services.

International Services

• One World Connected: An e-mail exchange program with Red Cross units worldwide.
• Measles Initiative: One million children die each year from measles in Africa. Help raise funds to vaccinate at-risk African children for less than $1.00 per child.

Fundraisers

• Car Wash: Hold a car wash in our chapter houses' driveways to collect money for our programs, such as transportation for seniors or local disaster response.

Courses for Youth

Contact the chapter at (908) 273-2076 for information on bringing these programs to your school or organization, or for holding a class for your group at the chapter. Click below for course descriptions.

Babysitter's Training - Red Cross certification. Fee: $55.

A nominal fee is charged for the following courses:

Basic Aid Training (BAT)
Tommy the Safety Cat
Scrubby Bear Handwashing Program
Longfellow's WHALE Tales
Scout badge requirement sessions
First Aid for Children Today (FACT)
Masters of Disaster
Pet First Aid