1545 N. West Bypass
Springfield MO 65803
417-832-9500 Ext. 1107
Contact: Nigel Holderby
From a Volunteer's Perspective
What is a Hero?
American Red Cross Greater Ozarks Region, 10/31/2011-
What is a Hero?
Written by American Red Cross, AmeriCorp Volunteer Jennifer "Jenny"
Schad. ~ Recruitment and Presence Specialist serving in the Kansas City
area.
I joined the American Red Cross, AmeriCorps program because I aspire to
be a great philanthropist. But mainly, I have a "hero" complex. In my
hometown I was a volunteer firefighter for a year and a half and an EMT.
I was recruited to respond to Joplin hours after the tornado hit to
conduct search and rescues. Even amidst the fires and disasters that I
have responded to, I never really stopped to think about the other side
of saving a life. When I say the other side of saving a life, I mean
being there when they pick up the pieces.
With that being said, my first week in the office I was presented with
the opportunity to respond to a fire, with the American Red Cross. If
you say to me, "respond to a fire", my adrenaline starts pumping and I
jump up and want to be the first one there. I know responding with the
American Red Cross is very, very different than responding as a
firefighter. I'm just programed that way.
I accompanied one our amazing Disaster Action Team Volunteers out to
meet a woman whose once beautiful log cabin house, had been reduced to
mere smoldering remnants of a material life. We found the woman at her
neighbor's house where she had stayed the night. The neighbor led us in
to the woman. She was on the phone to her mom, recounting the event and
choking back the tears. I could feel her anguish from across the room.
I'm not really sure why I was so struck by this scene. I mean, I had
been to disasters before. I have seen people in pain. But there I was,
in this beautiful home, for once in my life, completely speechless. What
am I supposed to say? How do I, a stranger, provide comfort? It struck
me then, that I had never been faced with this task. I had always just
run in, fire hose drawn, put out the fire, then left. I felt silly
because that was how I had perceived things, running in saving the day
and then never looking back. It's embarrassing that it took me so long
realize, that isn't exactly how it is.
The woman got off the phone, and attempted a casual greeting. The DAT
volunteer went from hand shake to warm hug. I could tell at once that
the woman was grateful. She sobbed on the Volunteers shoulder. All the
while, I stand slightly distant, watching the scene unfold, learning all
I could, and trying to decide my best course of action to provide
comfort. I settled with a follow up hug, and what I had hoped was a
reassuring smile.
After, what I'm sure, was an awkward silent hug, the DAT member
reassured her with words. Words I would have never been able to find. At
this, I could see the woman's posture change slightly, as if she were
really holding up the weight of the world and by us showing up and
offering not only monetary support but emotional support, a portion of
that weight had been relieved. She realized that we were there to share
her burden and hold it with her.
We filled out the paperwork and got it all squared away. The DAT
Volunteer gave her one more hug and sent me to get comfort kits. On my
way back in I passed the Volunteer as she headed out to the truck, so
that left me on my own to speak. I was ashamed that this seemed like
such a huge task for me. But I had always gone into people's lives to
offer up my skills, even risk my life; but I had never gone in to offer
my heart.
I learned that day that, that's exactly what our volunteers do. They
open up their hearts, to help pick up their lives. A hero isn't just
someone who voluntarily runs into a burning building. A hero is also
that person who will look a person suffering in the eyes and find words
of encouragement. To share a person's burden willingly, to work "behind
the scenes" so to speak. A hero is an American Red Cross Volunteer. And
I am so grateful to have been given the opportunity to join their ranks.
We are thankful for our many Volunteers across the Region and are proud
to share stories from their experiences in the community. For additional
information or to talk with Jenny regarding her story please contact
Nigel Holderby.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to
victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood;
teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and
supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a
charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on
volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its
mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org
<http://www.redcross.org/> or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org
<http://blog.redcross.org/> .
-End-
K. Nigel Holderby
Chief Communications Officer
American Red Cross
Greater Ozarks Regional Chapter
1545 N. West Bypass
Springfield, MO. 65803
(417) 832-9500 ext 107 (p)
(866) 206-0256 (toll free)
(417) 207-6349 (c)
(417) 866-3649 (f)
October is Fire Prevention Month
The American Red Cross is encouraging people
to remember two key fire safety tips:
installing smoke alarms and developing a fire escape plan.
For more information go to:www.redcross.org
