By: Kim Mailes, American Red Cross
“I want to be that person who can help others,” said Peggy Gaines, American Red Cross volunteer from St. Joseph, Missouri. “I’ve deployed many times in many roles. I think that’s what keeps me motivated.”
Her most recent Red Cross deployment was to Florida for the Hurricane Ian disaster relief operation, but just take a look at a partial list of ways she has served during her fourteen years as a volunteer: rising in the middle of the night to respond to home fires with the Disaster Action Team; installing lifesaving smoke alarms in homes during “Sound the Alarm” campaigns; driving Emergency Response Vehicles to respond to disasters; presenting “Pillowcase” and “Prepare with Pedro” programs in public school classrooms; working in shelters to provide a safe place for those displaced by hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and tornadoes. Most people working in just one of these roles would find it exhausting.
“I just keep telling myself, you have it all,” she said. “I can be here for those who need my help. I can solve problems and look ahead for potential problems and give advice where I think it is needed.”
Amazingly, volunteers make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce. But many of those volunteers are inexperienced, or only respond occasionally, or only work in one specified line of service. That’s what makes a volunteer like Peggy so unique and indispensable, her vast knowledge and experience.
During the recent Hurricane Ian disaster relief operation Peggy deployed as a Shelter Resident Transition (SRT) volunteer. SRT volunteers counsel one-on-one with shelter residents to help them formulate a plan to rebuild their lives after a disaster, and work to secure financial assistance from the Red Cross and partner organizations to make their recovery possible.
“When I can see a person leave a shelter, get back to work with a new uniform or a new pair of shoes, find a place to live, fix the tire on their bike, when I see they’re happy and ready to go, I feel like I have done my part.”
“I’ve been in a whirlwind the past six months, probably six or seven disaster relief operations — I’ve lost track,” she said. “I need to take a breather, but I will continue to train Disaster Action Teams and work in the education programs for my chapter.” Despite her plans to take it a little easier for a while, she noted that she is leaving again in a few days to travel to El Paso to support the refugee camps, a role she fulfilled a few months ago.
Peggy said her religious training is the most important influence in her motivation to serve. “I’m a missionary at heart. My family and my church provide great support. I know they pray that I will be able to do my job and stay healthy.”
She recommends that everyone consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer. “There are so many jobs anyone can do in the Red Cross, many from your own home. Training can be done virtually, and the support you get from your chapter and other volunteers will be there for you. You pick your times and activities and go for it!”
Every humanitarian organization needs a few super volunteers to succeed. Peggy Gaines is a volunteer who can always be counted on, and whose vast knowledge and depth of experience make any operation successful.