American Red Cross of Central Florida 

Teen Corps

Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said that we cannot always build the future for our children... but we can build our children for the future. In that spirit, the Teen Corps program of the American Red Cross of Central Florida is playing a major role in preparing our young people for the future through programs that emphasize education, leadership, and volunteerism.

The Teen Corps was founded in September 17, 1977 to provide young people an opportunity to experience the positive effects of volunteerism. The Teen Corps is a youth group led by youth for youth with mentoring from former members and adult advisors. Teen Corps members are trained as Peer Facilitators in Red Cross programs such as Basic Aid Training, Masters of Disasters, and Leadership Development Curriculums for elementary, middle, and high school students.

Teen Corps members choose, plan, and perform a wide variety of community service projects throughout the Orange, Osceola and Seminole tri-county area. Projects include working with Green-Up Orlando, Second Harvest Food Bank, Central Florida Coalition for the Homeless, Florida Citrus Sports Association, local nursing homes, and a variety of other community-based organizations.

Teen Corps members are also trained disaster responders. Yes... youth can work in local disaster operations! With proper Red Cross training and adult supervision, youth volunteers staff call centers, monitor vital radio communications, assist with setting up shelters, and carry out several other functions such as shelter operations, mass care and feeding, and Disaster Operation Center staffing with adult leadership.

Teen Corps members organize an activity every Saturday throughout the year, whether it’s planting and landscaping, assisting with food drives by sorting and packing food, planning a Halloween party for children, or teaching a Red Cross preparedness course. Annual projects include staffing water stations at marathons, delivering holiday cheer and gifts to seniors in local nursing homes, and helping with local chapter special events through planning and operating support. Each Teen Corps member donates an average of 150 community service hours each year. Furthermore, they develop essential leadership and life skills, make lots of new friends, and have a GREAT time while doing it.

For more information about the American Red Cross of Central Florida Teen Corps, contact Myra Allcock, Youth Services Volunteer Chairman.

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