By Ryan Meyer

After an injury ended her EMT career in 2011, Melissa Gibson discovered a new calling with the American Red Cross during a power outage. Not knowing at the time that a Red Cross shelter had opened nearby, she looked elsewhere to get much-needed portable oxygen tanks. Once the power came back on, she learned about the shelter and decided right then to get involved. This discovery sparked her desire to raise awareness of access to critical resources during emergencies.

Today, Melissa serves as a volunteer partner at the East Tennessee chapter office in Knoxville, overseeing disaster response operations across 11 counties. She manages 70 to 80 volunteers across multiple teams, including the disaster action team, duty officers and recovery specialists.

Despite health challenges and being a single guardian to her 10-year-old granddaughter, Melissa's commitment to service has only grown stronger. After COVID-19 hit, she returned to volunteering with a renewed purpose.

Her daily responsibilities include coordinating emergency responses, managing volunteer schedules and building relationships with local fire chiefs to strengthen community preparedness.

Melissa recently led a virtual deployment after Hurricane Helene, supporting relief efforts in eastern Tennessee, where her team of six volunteers processed 118 cases over three weeks. She also conducts preparedness presentations in schools, teaching children of all ages about how to respond during a home fire. 

"Volunteering with the Red Cross became a family mission," Melissa says, noting that her sons, mother and sister all followed her lead in joining the organization. Melissa exemplifies the spirit of American Red Cross volunteerism and continues to inspire others to help and get involved.

To learn more about volunteering with the American Red Cross, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.