Volunteer

American Red Cross

The Walter Reed Bethesda Red Cross Office has hundreds of volunteers contributing thousands of hours every month supporting a variety of activities specifically for patients, family members and health care providers. Our volunteers range from civilian to active duty, from administrative to PhD who practice to the full extent of their credentials and support activities across the installation. Support activities by our volunteers include greeting every wounded, ill and injured service member who arrives via MEDEVAC, a Comfort Cart which goes to in-patient wards every single day of the year, an Animal Visitation team with 36 dogs and volunteering in more than 75 clinics throughout the hospital. During the summer we add more than 50 youth volunteers serving throughout Walter Reed Bethesda.

Volunteer at WRB

You can help! Serve your country through a gift of yourself – become a Red Cross Volunteer at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. We serve all inpatients, their families, staff, and visiting outpatients.

To begin the volunteer process, visit www.redcross.org, hover over "Volunteer", click "Find Your Perfect Fit," and be sure you are searching within the 20889 Zip Code.

General Volunteers: choose “Services to the Armed Forces - Medical Treatment Facility: General Clinic Volunteer...Walter Reed Bethesda."
Licensed/Credentialed Volunteers: choose "Service to the Armed Forces - Medical Treatment Facility: Licensed/Credentialed Volunteer...Walter Reed Bethesda."

Create a Red Cross ID, and provide all requested information. You will need to upload your ID and authorize a Red Cross background check. You will then receive a call from the Red Cross Volunteer Services. If you have any questions, please call the office at 301-295-1538 during office hours for assistance.

If you have a referral to volunteer from within the hospital, please let us know!

Parking

Parking at WRB is unavailable at this time, please be prepared to use public transportation.

Holiday Cards

American Red Cross in the National Capital Region
8550 Arlington Blvd. Fairfax, VA 22031

Donations

We are always accepting donations. Donations can be mailed to the office or arranged for drop-off at the hospital where volunteers can meet you to unload the vehicle. For a general list of items to donate, please click here.

Chapter Locator

If you reside in other areas, and would like to volunteer, please contact your local Red Cross Chapter for assistance. The American Red Cross network spans over 600 chapters and 58 military installations worldwide. Please visit the American Red Cross on the web for more information on chapter locations and services.

Health and Safety Courses

Sign up for a Health and Safety course by going to the American Red Cross training website. Enter in your zip code to find classes near you.

Blood Services

At WRB, blood donations are made through the Armed Services Blood Program. To schedule an appointment, call (301) 295-2106. If you are interested in giving blood or hosting a blood drive outside of WRB, please visit the American Red Cross Blood Services website.

Emergency Communication Services

Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Red Cross relays urgent messages containing accurate, factual, complete and verified descriptions of the emergency to service members stationed anywhere in the world, including on ships at sea and at embassies and remote locations. Red Cross-verified information assists the member and his/her commanding officers with making a decision regarding emergency leave. To contact Emergency Communications Services, call 1-877-272-7337 (toll free).

Navy/Marine Corps Relief Society

The Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society (NMCRS) is a non-profit charitable organization designed to provide financial, educational and other assistance to members of the Navy and Marine Corps. The 12 relief society volunteers help Navy and Marine families cope with financial pressures. Bethesda’s branch has given more than $375,000 to over 500 families for car repairs, emergency travel and food. NMCRS provides assistance and offers a variety of programs including: budget counseling; layettes for newborns; emergency car repair; financial assistance to active duty and retired Navy and Marine Corps service members and their families.

Emergency appointments allowed anytime during normal working hours. Call (301) 295-1207 to make an appointment. After working hours contact the American Red Cross at (877) 272-7337.