By Laura Purcell, Communications Volunteer
Earl Beatty’s dedication to his Red Cross volunteer position was obvious immediately. When I called to talk to him, his voice was muffled by the sound of his car and the road.
“I’m actually on the way to survey some damage down near Savannah for the Red Cross right now,” he said.
Earl is from Fort Valley, Georgia but moved to Sweetwater, Tennessee when he was 15 years old to attend the Tennessee Military Institute. He later worked as a Naval officer and then for the Maryland Department of Public Hygiene. He was also a volunteer firefighter in Maryland. After nearly 60 years away from home, he moved back to Ft. Valley in 2020. The local fire chief told Earl that their Red Cross chapter was short on Disaster Action Team volunteers, so Earl decided to join up. In-person trainings were still limited by COVID-19, so he completed his training online and has been an engaged, involved volunteer ever since. Earl was named Rookie of the Year for the Central Midwest chapter in 2021.
“Earl has been a fantastic addition to the DAT team since he joined the Red Cross,” said Tim Suda, Disaster Workforce Engagement Manager. “He has a compassion for our clients that is absolutely inspiring; he truly cares about each person he supports. Earl has such a positive and uplifting perspective that encourages all of those around him to step up and help out.”
As a DAT volunteer, Earl responds to house fires and other disasters in his area and helps the affected families receive assistance. His team takes photos, assesses damage, and connects families with financial assistance, medications, case managers, and other resources.
“Everyone has a unique need or requirement,” Earl noted. It’s his job to figure out what that need is and make sure it’s taken care of.
“The best part of volunteering is knowing that you’ve filled a need, like making sure someone has a place to sleep at night.”
In fiscal year 2021, DAT members like Earl responded to 2,785 home and apartment fires in Georgia and provided assistance for 4,506 families.
Some 387 of those fires and 513 of the families helped live in Central Midwest Georgia.
Earl encourages everyone interested in volunteering to take a look at the many different teams and opportunities available at the Red Cross. “There’s a role for anyone to be a Red Cross volunteer.”
Volunteer Appreciation
Week is a great time to sign up to volunteer yourself! If you’d like to get involved with the Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteer to learn more about volunteer opportunities and how to submit a volunteer application.
