From organizing blood drives, to raising awareness about natural disaster victims and teaching communities how to perform life-saving actions, the Red Cross Club at HSMSE is seeing a rapid revival under new leadership. The club follows the principles of the American Red Cross, providing opportunities for students to help others in their communities. Through volunteering, students can help communities in need and spark compassion from both the givers and the receivers. 

The Red Cross is a centuries-old association created during times of war and international struggle. In 1863, Henry Dunant and four other council members met in Geneva to discuss international adaptation of relief societies. By the end of the conference, they had created the International Red Cross, an organization with the responsibility to care for wounded soldiers, no matter what country they were from. Eventually, their aims shifted to other humanitarian efforts, but soldier relief always remained one of the International Red Cross’ top priorities. The American Red Cross was founded in 1877 by Clara Barton, who is known as the “Angel of the Battlefield,” for helping wounded soldiers throughout the Civil War. During the Franco–Prussian War, she was sent to aid Germany against France, where she worked for the International Red Cross. In 1873, she returned to America and later established the American branch of the International Red Cross, with goals that aligned with the International Red Cross.

The primary goal of the American Red Cross is simple: to limit human suffering. One of the main ways the organization does this is through disaster relief. When a natural disaster hits a community, the American Red Cross is often the first to respond, combating the chaos and displacement while providing struggling families with food, clothes, and a roof over their heads. They also contribute to disaster prevention, teaching communities about natural warning signs that commonly precede disasters. Their core concepts are humanity (alleviating suffering), impartiality (treating everyone regardless of race), neutrality (remaining politically unbiased), independence (staying loyal to Red Cross principles), voluntary service (service not motivated by personal gain), unity (only one Red Cross per country), and universality (all Red Cross societies are equal). 

The American Red Cross can support humanitarian efforts through fundraising by hosting bake sales and clothing drives, with all the resources going  to those in need, such as vaccinating those in villages or warzones. The Red Cross also provides about 40 percent of all blood donated in America, collecting around 4.5 million blood donations annually from 2.3 million donors.

The HSMSE Red Cross Club is following suit in these efforts; club members help organize fundraisers, blood drives, and awareness campaigns in exchange for volunteer hours. Of course, gaining volunteer hours is a good incentive, but it’s also the feeling of potentially saving a life. The president of the HSMSE Red Cross Club, Mira Saldanha (’28) says, “I would encourage someone to join the Red Cross Club if they’re interested in making a real difference in their community. The Red Cross plays a vital role in supporting people during emergencies and disasters, and our club brings that mission to the student level.” On March 31, the club hosted a bake sale and a blood drive at CCNY, and similar events will happen soon. Even if you can’t make it to the club sessions every Tuesday, there are ways to support the club from the outside. Simply buying a bake sale item or donating blood (if you’re over 16) can contribute to the effort, with Mira saying, “This is a great opportunity for students and community members to directly support lifesaving efforts and get involved in meaningful service.” 

Joining the Red Cross Club can be impactful no matter how much you are able to contribute, proving that support from an entire community can potentially save a life, put clothes on the back of a disaster victim, or at least improve a struggling person’s day. With new members and a fresh start, HSMSE’s Red Cross Club has the potential to continue making a difference in the world.