A Red Cross veteran with over thirty years of exemplary service, Kelly Koch supports many departments within the Red Cross, including Operations, Finance, Disaster Cycle Services and Public Affairs.

Kelly moved to Florida just before Hurricane Andrew hit the state in August 1992. Previously, she donated blood through the Red Cross in Ohio, where she lived before moving to Florida, so she was already familiar with the work of the Red Cross. Since her job was directly impacted, she used the time to volunteer at the local Red Cross to deliver clean-up kits and meals to the individuals and families affected by the hurricane. Since then, Kelly’s volunteer service has spanned across many departments in a variety of volunteer positions.  

Kelly has deployed to numerous disaster relief operations, including Hurricanes Michael, Dorian, Laura and Ian, and helped in the aftermath of tornadoes in Alabama and Ohio. In August 2020, she managed a shelter in New Orleans after Hurricane Laura. Before arriving at the shelter, Kelly conducted damage assessment where she canvassed affected communities across multiple counties to assess the damage and destruction caused by the hurricane. Disaster assessment volunteers provide vital information about a disaster’s impact, which helps inform the delivery of essential Red Cross services to affected residents.

In New Orleans, Kelly shared that, with help from her team, they were able to help families replace the clothing lost and left behind during the storm. She recalls that one shelter resident and her three children had only the clothes on their backs when they walked into the shelter and were beyond grateful to receive new clothes to help them begin their journey back to normalcy. The shelter resident was so appreciative of the assistance provided by the Red Cross that she started volunteering and helped to organize supplies at the shelter.  

Kelly has also helped to open pre-storm storm evacuation shelters in Okeechobee County and has built a great working relationship with the local School Board. With help from the School Board, the Red Cross is able to offer a safe place to stay for residents looking to shelter from incoming storms.

Kelly continues to work with the Red Cross because she “believes in their mission and is happy that she can be a small part of an organization that helps so many people, sometimes at the lowest point in their life.”

During National Volunteer Week, we honor volunteers like Kelly, who give back to their community in different ways. The Red Cross could not fulfill its lifesaving mission without these community heroes. To become a volunteer, visit redcross.org/SFLvolunteer.

Written by Bret Hollander, American Red Cross Public Affairs