Volunteers are the lifeblood of the American Red Cross, something that Kate Crowley embodies. She joined as a volunteer at the urging of her husband Jim, who was a Red Crosser for several years. She began as a Disaster Action Team responder in 2008 and through the years, has been involved with sheltering, mass care and disaster training.

After retirement, Crowley decided to commit more of her time to the Red Cross.

“I’m not one of these people that retired and is just going to read a book or do a craft or something,” Crowley said. “I really like to learn. I like to be around people.”

In addition to her work locally, Crowley requested to be deployed to disaster responses around the country. She was sent several times, including her first deployment to Denver for flooding and to Louisiana during Hurricane Laura. She and her husband even drove a Red Cross emergency vehicle from Pennsylvania to Texas during Hurricane Harvey in 2017.

One of her most impactful memories happened closer to home. In 2011, rainfall from Tropical Storm Lee led to historic flooding in Crowley’s small town in Wyoming County.

“It’s one thing to be a volunteer in an area that you’re not familiar with, but when it’s your own community and you’re seeing people affected and suffering, you’re trying to help out without getting emotional about it,” Crowley said. “It’s hard when it’s in your backyard.”

Crowley spent the days and weeks after the flood helping her community recover, including working in a shelter and delivering meals to her neighbors.

Throughout her more than 15 years as a Red Cross volunteer, Crowley transitioned between roles in disaster services that best fit her interests.

“You give some, you take some, you move on from some that maybe aren't as appealing to you,” she said. “I'm getting older and not able to go out in the middle of the night like I used to and set up shelters. So more of a desk job, an office job, is more to my abilities these days.”

Crowley currently leads disaster workforce engagement in the Greater Pennsylvania Region, working with volunteers to help them navigate through the Red Cross disaster program and find the right fit. In addition, she coordinates the scheduling of training classes and events.

“I love what I do. I love working with other volunteers. Hopefully, I’ve made a difference over the years with a few people,” she said.

With all her varied experiences with the Red Cross, Crowley soon found herself in another leadership role. During a hurricane deployment to South Carolina in 2016, Crowley met Sandi Wraith, the regional disaster officer for the Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania. Today, Crowley is Wraith’s volunteer partner.

“I like to think that I bring the perspective of the volunteer to the conversation,” Crowley said. “It’s been a really great partnership.”

Wraith agreed, “Kate is my right arm, accompanying me to all Regional Leadership Team meetings and Division Regional Disaster Officer meetings.  She has my full confidence to speak for me, for herself and for our Disaster Services team. Kate approaches her role with integrity and commitment, working tirelessly to build up our workforce and to share her wisdom and experience with me and our Regional Disaster Leadership team. She has her finger on the pulse of the volunteer workforce and has earned the trust of our volunteers and staff who go to her with their ideas and concerns.”

Not all volunteers are expected to have Crowley’s level of commitment. She said volunteers can help as much or as little as they want.

“There’s a way for you to serve. It doesn’t have to be direct interaction, although that’s where we often need people the most. There’s a lot of behind-the-scenes positions that are necessary and important. The organization does offer a lot of flexibility and the opportunity to grow and learn new things and meet a lot of wonderful people.”

She encouraged people who are on the fence about volunteering that there is a place for them at the Red Cross.

“Give it a shot; try it. If you don’t like it, we’ll find something else,” Crowley said. “We’ll try to fit you in somewhere else that’s maybe better suited to your interests and your availability. I think we can pretty much accommodate anybody if they have the interest and the desire to help.”

Volunteers make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce. If you are interested in volunteer opportunities in your community, head to redcross.org/volunteers for more information on how you can make a difference.