Help Protect Your Community: Join the Medical Reserve Corps
The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a volunteer network of medical professionals and community members who help communities prepare for and respond to public health emergencies. You don’t need a medical background to volunteer, but we gladly welcome those who have one.
What is the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)?
The MRC is a community-based volunteer program that strengthens public health and emergency preparedness.
Local MRC units bring together volunteers who want to support their communities during emergencies and public health initiatives. Volunteers receive training and may assist local health departments, emergency responders, and community organizations when additional support is needed during events like severe weather, floods, wildfires, and disease outbreaks.
The program is part of the national Medical Reserve Corps network, which helps communities across the United States improve their ability to respond to public health emergencies.
What Do MRC Volunteers Do?
MRC volunteer activities may include:
- Supporting vaccination or medication clinics
- Assisting during disease outbreaks or public health emergencies
- Helping at emergency shelters during disasters
- Supporting community health fairs and outreach programs
- Providing health education and preparedness information
- Assisting local health departments with emergency response efforts
Volunteers receive training so they are prepared to assist safely and effectively.
Have more questions? View the MRC frequently asked questions.
Steps to Sign Up as an MRC Volunteer
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1
Visit the SERVPA website
Visit the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Pennsylvania (SERVPA) website.
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2
Click register
Register to create an account on SERVPA.
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3
Select an organization
Under "Organizations," select the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) closest to your location. Not sure which is closest to you? View the unit listing to see available MRCs.
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4
Complete your registration
Complete your registration on the SERVPA site. Someone from the MRC you selected will reach out.
During public health emergencies or disasters, local health systems can quickly become overwhelmed. The MRC helps communities respond more effectively by ensuring trained volunteers are ready to assist when they are needed most. Joining the MRC allows you to:
- Receive emergency preparedness and response training.
- Support your community during public health events and emergencies.
- Gain valuable experience in public health and emergency response.
- Connect with other volunteers and community organization.
By sharing your skills and time, you strengthen your community, support local preparedness, and make a real difference when it counts. You’ll join a statewide network of people who believe in service and in showing up for one another. It’s a meaningful way to give back and help ensure Pennsylvania is ready for whatever comes next.
MRC volunteers provide a wide range of public health and medical support in their communities. They have supported contact tracing and vaccination clinics during COVID‑19, provided medical care in shelters during severe weather, and delivered health education at festivals and community events.
Here are some examples of the types of events MRC Units support:
- Flu Clinics
- National Night Out
- Community COVID-19 vaccination clinics
- Juneteenth celebrations
- Allentown Fair
- IronPigs Charities Events
- Musikfest
- Bethlehem Half Marathon
- Sound the Alarm Event collaboration with American Red Cross
- Shelter support for three alarm fire in the Hotel Hampton Building
- Flu Vaccination Station at the Remote Area Medical (RAM) clinic
- Tall Ships Erie
- Broad St. Run
- Made in America Concert
- Philadelphia Marathon
- Rock n' Roll Marathon
- Welcome America Concert
In a public health emergency, many different skills are needed. Volunteers from all backgrounds are welcome. You don’t need medical experience or training to volunteer. MRC volunteers come from many different backgrounds, including:
- Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and EMTs
- Public health professionals
- Students studying health or emergency response
- Interpreters and community outreach volunteers
- Logistics, communications, and administrative support volunteers
- Community members who want to help during emergencies
Both medical and non-medical volunteers play an important role in supporting public health response efforts.
No. MRC volunteers come from both medical and non‑medical backgrounds.
Typically. Pennsylvania has 10 different MRC units across the state. The units operate at the city, county, or regional level. Each unit decides when and how to deploy its volunteers, but most volunteers respond to emergencies only within their own local area.
The number of volunteer opportunities varies by location and by unit.
All MRC volunteers complete a basic orientation about how the MRC works in emergencies and public health.
Support/administrative volunteers get training for their specific tasks and may join practice drills. Training often covers communication, support skills, and local command systems.
Front‑line volunteers receive more advanced training, including CPR/basic life support, hazardous materials awareness, and basic first aid for common emergencies.
The MRC program is made up of 10 units across Pennsylvania. Use the dropdowns below to learn more about the unit in your area. You can also view a map with MRC unit locations.
If you belong to an organization that would like to sponsor a new MRC unit in an area of the state that is not currently served by these public health and health care volunteers, please contact the Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response at ra-dhBEPR@pa.gov.
The Allegheny Medical Reserve Corps currently has over 1500 MRC volunteers and serves the 13 counties of Western Pennsylvania known as Region 13. Visit the Allegheny Medical Reserve Corps site for more information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The Allentown Volunteer Medical Reserve Corps currently has over 200 volunteers. The MRC program receive training through the Allentown Health Bureau. Please visit the Allentown Medical Reserve Corps site for more information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The City of Bethlehem Medical Reserve Corps currently has over 100 volunteers. The MRC program receives training through the City of Bethlehem’s Health Bureau. Please visit the City of Bethlehem’s Medical Reserve Corps Volunteer Unit site for more information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The Bucks County Medical Reserve Corps was founded in 2005 and currently has over 250 volunteers. Visit the Buck’s Medical Reserve Corps site for more information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The Chester County Medical Reserve Corps currently has over 250 volunteers who serve in both clinical and non-clinical roles based on the support needs of the Chester County Health Department. Visit the Chester County Medical Reserve Corps site for more information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The Citizen Corps of Delaware County currently has over 2,000 volunteers and is the umbrella for many other organizations whose best practices are integrated into a dynamic group. The different areas of support are as follow: ARES/RACES, Citizens Emergency Response Team, Delaware County Animal Response Team, Delaware County Crisis Outreach Team, and Medical Reserve Corps. Visit the Citizen Corps of Delaware County site for more information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps currently has over 1,500 volunteers. Visit the Montgomery County Medical Reserve Corps site for information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The Northwest Medical Reserve Corps currently has over 150 volunteers and serves Crawford, Erie, Forest, Venango, and Warren Counties. Visit the Northwest Medical Reserve Corps site for more information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps is a group of more than 4,500 volunteers who serve the city during public health emergencies and large-scale events. Visit the Philadelphia Medical Reserve Corps site for information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!
The South Central PA Medical Reserve Corps currently has over 500 volunteers and serves multiple counties as highlighted below. Visit the South Central PA Medical Reserve Corps site for information on how you can apply to become a volunteer!