The efforts of Red Cross volunteers - assisting those in need when natural disaster strikes - can sometimes make a dreadful event, such as a hurricane, inspiring. Its humanitarian mission to alleviate human suffering creates such a positive impact, not only in those who directly receive aid but in the witnesses of its majestical actions. Such was the case of Henry Harris.

Henry Harris was motivated to become a volunteer upon seeing Red Crossers in action following Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Yet, the chaos of his personal situation delayed executing his ability to join the Red Cross until September 2007.

Starting out as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer, Henry went out with the team to assess the extent of home fire damage to local properties, classifying them as: Destroyed, Major, Minor, Affected or no Visible Damage.

Hurricane Gustav was the first natural disaster that Henry responded to as a Red Crosser in 2008, during which he served in Disaster Assessment. This was only the first of multiple tasks Henry would take on as a Red Crosser. But it was through the vision of another Red Crosser that Henry found the courage to continue growing as a volunteer.

Henry’s local chapter supervisor, Charles Banks, saw great potential in Henry that he himself had not, recommending that Henry take on new volunteer opportunities.

“He was instrumental in me taking on additional roles with the Red Cross,” stated Henry.

Together, they attended supervisory training in the Atlanta Red Cross office. Henry worked at an oil company at the time that was very supportive of his mission with the Red Cross and even paid for most of the trip.

The beauty of the Red Cross is how it builds a community of people who support a cause that is greater than themselves, and selflessly take care of human needs. It invites even those who are unaffiliated with the Red Cross to excerpt kindness and contribute to its cause, just as Henry’s company did.

Thanks to Charles’ support, as well as that of his employer, Henry took on handling the Chapter Fleet Vehicles, which entailed ensuring that the vehicles were washed, oil changed, and insurance cards included. For a brief time, Henry also became the “point person” for the local fire departments to contact when Red Cross services were needed. Additionally, Henry trained for Duty Officer, RC Care Case Creator and 2^nd responder, Psychological First Aid, Shelter Operations, Logistics and Overview, handling of emergency response vehicles (ERVs) and Mass Care.

The Red Cross has numerous volunteer positions that can be filled, and as Henry exemplified, volunteers can train in as many different positions and fulfill as many roles as they would like. All these roles collectively constitute the multiple ways in which the Red Cross fulfills its mission, with volunteers making up 90% of the workforce. It’s volunteers like Henry who go above and beyond to make the mission of alleviating human suffering amid disasters possible.

Covering eight parishes, Henry was the only responder in the Acadiana Area from September 2014 to February 2015. Back then, all responses were in-person. For Henry, that meant sleeping in his office during his lunchtime because on most days, he was responding to a fire disaster after work.

“I really loved it,” expressed Henry at the Louisiana Hurricane Conference this past June.

It takes passion and a deep sense of purpose to be an extraordinary Red Crosser like Henry. Currently a DAT Volunteer Supervisor on Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., Henry oversees answering calls from the national end reporting an event, such as a house fire, which he verifies with fire departments, deputy’s offices, or whomever issued the call, before making initial contact with the client as duty officer. Verifying events is important to assure that the money donated to the Red Cross is properly employed.

According to Henry, every task is “an emotional situation.” Henry reflected on a recent phone conversation he had with a client who had been trying to reach out for help multiple times but had not received a call back. The client was emotionally distressed, and Henry took the time to listen to his situation. By the simply listening, Henry was able to dissipate the client’s frustration and resolve the miscommunication issue between the client and other duty officers.

Another task that Henry manages is the onboarding process – the process of interviewing new volunteers and helping them figure out what they would like to do as a Red Crosser. Having had experience as a supervisor and coordinator in the oil industry made it “natural for me to train other volunteers in the Red Cross,” expressed Henry. Although he is not a certified trainer, Henry often answers questions and helps guide new volunteers as they get familiarized with their positions. In the past, he would often take new volunteers to “home fire scenes” with him to allow them to get a feel for what being a duty officer entails and helps them decide how they would like to help by experiencing the response firsthand.

Initiative is the first step to becoming a Red Crosser, and there really is something for everyone. As a matter of fact, there are hundreds of positions that volunteers can fulfill according to their likes, skills and most importantly, passion.

If you are inspired to achieve greatness for humanity, consider becoming a Red Crosser. It is only through the contribution of volunteers that the Red Cross can fulfill its mission to alleviate human suffering.