THIS VOLUNTEER IS SUPPORTING HEALTHCARE STATEWIDE

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Gregory Sachan. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

By the time Gregory Sachan joins Duke University’s Class of 2029 this fall, he will already have achieved tremendous things.

Currently participating in the Duke Gap Year Program, the 19-year-old volunteer is on a mission to make healthy living a possibility for everyone across the state of North Carolina. As a high school freshman stuck at home during the onslaught of the COVID-19 pandemic, Gregory saw the need for assistance in his community. Looking to make a difference, he joined his high school’s American Red Cross Club and eventually went on to become its president.

Fast forward to his post-high school days, and Gregory’s role with the American Red Cross North Carolina Region has skyrocketed to great heights. As the development chair of the NC Youth Leadership Council and Youth Chapter Advisor for the East Region, he helps lead events and virtual initiatives. As a blood donor ambassador, he has contributed over 200 hours of volunteering and was named the 2024 Youth Volunteer of the Year by the Greater Triangle Area Chapter. Gregory has worked tirelessly this summer to promote blood drives through social media and phone calls with previous donors to encourage them to come out and donate. He’s even working to create an information database for elected officials within ten counties where the Red Cross can coordinate various community efforts, and expects to complete that in August.

In addition to his work with the Red Cross, Gregory is also an active volunteer with the University of North Carolina Rex Hospital, where he assists with cancer rehab exercises, records vital signs and supports post-operative care in the PACU, or post-anesthesia care unit.

No matter where Gregory is volunteering, he is dedicated to spreading healthcare to the masses. When asked what he wants people to learn from his story, Gregory shared his desire for people to give any type of volunteering that interests them a try, even if they aren’t sure it will work out. That willingness to try new things and help others with no questions asked is a powerful reminder of the heart of volunteerism.

What inspires you to volunteer?

The demonstrated community need. I would see on the news, especially during the pandemic, how there were a lot of different community efforts that needed volunteers, or different things going on that people were needed for. For example, one that stood out to me was the blood shortages throughout the country.

What inspired you to get started with this initiative?

For my work with UNC Rex Hospital, I got my EMT license when I was a senior in high school. Being able to do my ambulance clinical shifts and interact with my local community, and see the different resources that people might need in my community, inspired me to start volunteering at Rex. With the Red Cross, I was part of my high school’s American Red Cross Club. However, my freshman year of high school was online due to the pandemic, so it was kind of hard to do anything during the lockdown. But the different online opportunities piqued my interest, because it was a really good way to get involved in my community. That ultimately led me to find opportunities like being the volunteer coordinator of my school’s club, and then serving as the president for two years.

Tell us about your volunteer role with the NC American Red Cross and the University of North Carolina Rex Hospital.

Until around June, I volunteered at the surgical services department of UNC Rex, where I was able to interact with patients after they had surgery and provided them with any resources they might need. Currently, I’m volunteering at the cancer center, where I teach different workouts that help people gain the motivation and encouragement to work out at local gyms.

Before I started my gap year, I helped advise the North Carolina Red Cross East Regional Youth chapter. Any youth volunteer in that part of the state can participate in our club meetings or anything that we share, and they can have an impact on their community in a variety of different ways.

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization?

A long-term goal with my volunteering is to find a way to help everyone in North Carolina find different ways they can get involved in their community. For example, one big thing with the Eastern Regional club that I advise was the collection that we held for veterans and their families by providing resources, thank you cards and recognizing their service overall. I think those opportunities, helping everyone out the best we could through raising awareness, are some of my long-term goals – finding ways that make it easier for anyone to get involved.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

Onboarding new volunteers. Before they get started with their club, I hear their stories about how they want to support their community. It shows that a lot of people are interested in being a part of a massive effort to support their local communities. At one point in our club, we had around 70 or 80 members. So there are a lot of people in the eastern region who want to get involved. Seeing the incoming support of new teenagers who want to help support their community has also been among the most rewarding parts.

Also, in terms of my volunteering at UNC Rex, a reward is seeing the progression of how people gain more confidence and strength doing different exercises and being able to go out in their community and talk about how a lot of the exercises that we’ve taught them have helped them in their daily lives.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

The importance of teamwork and collaboration. Without teamwork, it’s hard to organize large group efforts throughout a community. You also have the opportunity to explore different perspectives or ideas. If you lead a volunteer effort by yourself, you may overlook certain possibilities. Those different perspectives might change how you view things. Also, collaboration. Being able to work with others helps you understand their perspectives. Hearing other people’s perspectives can also help you find other opportunities or community efforts you may want to be a part of.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.

One thing I’m excited about is that I joined the founding board for creating a young adult volunteer network. It’s similar to how I advise the Eastern Regional Club for North Carolina, but that’s mainly for teenage volunteers. With the young adult network, our main intention is to help find opportunities for young adults, regardless of whether they are in college, trade school or currently have a job. It’s more like an overall approach to getting virtual or in-person opportunities for young adults. That’s exciting, because there are a lot of people who might be interested in volunteering in the 18-to-24 age range, but aren’t able to participate in things they did in high school. This group gives opportunities similar to those clubs, along with different resources that can help them get involved in the community in different ways they may not have considered before.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

My advice for people who want to start volunteering would be to try anything out. When I was in high school, I didn’t know what kind of volunteering I wanted to do. I signed up for six different clubs my freshman year, but being able to try everything out and see all the different opportunities helped me realize what interested me the most. Being able to understand what I enjoy doing and understanding the different ways I can help my community helps broaden my perspective of what my community might need. You may not know what you want to do until you try it.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Gregory? Find local volunteer opportunities.