My Red Cross Volunteer Story: John Mead

Prince William County volunteer John Mead has been helping the American Red Cross prepare for, respond to and recover from many types of disasters over the past three years. John started on the on the Disaster Action Team (DAT) in the National Capital and Richmond regions. Now he is providing comfort and care to people affected by emergencies across the country. Recently, John volunteered with a virtual disaster deployment providing people with tools and resources they need after a disaster. Now he is serving in Austin, TX to help the Red Cross meet immediate disaster-caused or disaster-aggravated needs. For a few weeks, John will be providing on-site aid to the thousands of families facing the devastating aftermath following flooding, tornadoes and severe weather. He joins other Red Cross volunteers providing shelters throughout the state and helping residents cope with the emotion toll. 

John was first interested in the Red Cross because he liked how the organization brings together everyday people to take action and provide one-on-one assistance to those in need. When he is not volunteering with the DAT, John enjoys supporting the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) team and with special events. His goal as a volunteer is simple: “I’m just an normal guy who wants to help people in need and the Red Cross is a great place for me to do that.”

Through Red Cross volunteer responsibilities, John and others witness firsthand how they can make a difference. Learn moreabout how you can get involved down the street, across the country or around the world. See the latest update on the Texas response efforts and how you can help those impacted. 

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Fawn Bennett

Fawn Bennett epitomizes the spirit of the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteer:  a love of humanity and an empathy and respect for military members and their families.  These personal characteristics combined with good interpersonal skills, a thirst for practical knowledge and a strong desire to support the broader military family molded her to become a truly outstanding SAF volunteer.  Having experienced the family joy, pride and sacrifices of military service as the wife of a 22-year active duty Air Force serviceman and 11-year Defense Department civilian employee, Fawn has devoted her innate talents and honed skills in with the American Red Cross.  One only has to walk through the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, the Soldiers and Family Assistance Center, the Quantico clinic and coalition partner meetings, the many outreach events and anywhere else in the military community to see the appreciation and respect the military community has for Fawn Bennett.  The impact of her service as an American Red Cross SAF volunteer is exceptional and substantial. 

One of the most significant achievements by Fawn was rebuilding a Red Cross presence and active program at Quantico Marine Corps Base, beginning in August 2013.  As Chairman of Volunteers and Community Outreach Associate for SAF Quantico Marine Corps Base (MCB), she worked closely with the Station Manager in this effort, resulting in a sevenfold (from 7 to 77) increase in the number of volunteers in less than a year.  

Moreover, through personal initiative and with an abundance of energy, Fawn constantly expanded her role and responsibilities at the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital by actively recruiting volunteers and seeking new placements; chairing the Warrior Transition Unit Support and Wounded Service Member Support; meeting medical evacuation flights; assisting in Walter Reed Bethesda and Fort Belvoir Wounded Warrior tours of the Pentagon and meetings with high-level Defense Department officials there; organizing holiday and other events for the warriors and their families; and maintaining good relations with hospital staff.  She also worked as an SAF client caseworker. Recently in December 2015, Fawn actively participated in a National Headquarters team building exercise concerning the SAF client caseworker. 

To summarize, Fawn Bennett’s volunteer service which began in 2009 and continues today, has been at three stations: Landstuhl Medical Center in Germany, Fort Belvoir Community Hospital in Virginia and Quantico Marine Corps Base in Virginia.  Her responsibilities have been many and varied, including: General Volunteer for Patient Comfort Care and Comfort Cart, Chairman of Warrior Transition Unit Support, Wounded Service Member Support, Medical Evacuation (MEDEVAC), SAF Client Caseworker, Community Outreach Associate and Chairman of Volunteers at Quantico MCB. Fawn currently holds a Certified Nursing Assistant certificate, and she provides in-home healthcare services. 

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Suzanne Bucci, RN

Suzanne Bucci, RN, OB/Gyn NP, and Red Cross Volunteer, served as a nurse in the US Air Force Acupuncture and Integrative Medicine (AIM) Center at Joint Base-Andrews, MD. She is an Army veteran, the wife of a retired Army officer, and the mother of two adult children, one of which has served in the Army. She has been a Red Cross volunteer for the past 15 years. Mrs. Bucci has volunteered in the local communities where she and her husband were located since she separated from the Army. She is an expert nurse with a compassionate heart.

As a devoted wife and mother, she continued to share her nursing talents with the community as a volunteer. While traveling with her husband to foreign countries for his work position, she provided healthcare as an OB/Gyn nurse practitioner with limited resources to women and children in Albania during a critical time in that nation’s history. With the heart of a teacher, she taught Albanian nurses how to care for pregnant women and the children.

When she returned to the United States, she chose to help the “nation’s finest” in the Pentagon. The first day she volunteered was September 11, 2001. She was in the Pentagon during the attack. Before receiving orientation, she provided care to the wounded without knowing where any supplies or equipment was located. Dust and debris contributed to the confusion; but she was focused on providing care. That is the type of person she is, she sees a need and fills that need.

Her work in the AIM Center was carried over from the Pentagon Flight Medicine Clinic where she excelled to provide advanced acupuncture and other alternative modalities to patients. Along with physician acupuncturists, she delivered a unique approach to providing patient treatments that included acupuncture and integrative medicine techniques for a wide variety of conditions, such as chronic pain, smoking cessation, musculoskeletal conditions, mental health conditions, and so much more. This type of care has never been defined for nursing practice. She created a unique niche for nurses in this clinic by learning specific electric modalities and was a perpetual student of the acupuncture art and now has become THE expert in these pain relief techniques. She served professionally as an educator, counselor, and nurse in our high-volume center - always taking a moment for those needing a shoulder to lean on or a hug for support.

She has trained several physicians, Uniformed Services University medical students, nurses, and medical technicians. As a valued volunteer she was asked to teach very specific electric modality techniques at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center. They appreciated her teaching style using the hands-on approach. Mrs. Bucci has, without a doubt, influenced the next generation of healthcare professionals.

Mrs. Bucci connects with patients on a personal level helping them understand their medical condition and teaching them how to improve or manage their condition. She makes accommodations for people to come when convenient for their schedule. She has outstanding energy and enthusiasm each day, as she comforted, consoled and cared for the war wounded, tired, and traumatized clients. She truly exemplifies the mission and spirit of the American Red Cross.

Nurses have been vital to the work of the American Red Cross since 1888. Today, more than 15,000 of your fellow nurses are involved in providing disaster services, teaching and developing courses, managing blood drives and other leadership roles throughout our organization. Learn more about how you can get involved with the Red Cross.

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Patty Baisden

Written by: Emily Goff, volunteer

I became involved with the American Red Cross because of a personal experience I had when I was a child. The Red Cross responded to a fire at my home when I was in the 6th grade. Giving to the Red Cross, both my time and treasure, was a natural fit for me. Only after talking to others did I realize the depth and breadth of the services the American Red Cross provides.

Currently, I am the Prince William Council chairperson for the Red Cross and I serve on the Board of Directors for the National Capital Region. I am also a Tiffany Circle member and assist with the Tiffany Circle leadership, helping to welcome and develop new members. My daughter is also a Tiffany Circle member. The Tiffany Circle was formed in 2006 to “unite and engage a group of generous and highly-involved women to continue to ensure that the Red Cross has the ability to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to life's emergencies.” Members from across the country each donate $10,000 or more annually to support the American Red Cross. For more information on the Tiffany Circle, click here.

The American Red Cross is one of those groups that aids virtually every person in the world.  Blood services, first aid/CPR classes, swimming lessons, disaster response, and service to the armed forces help millions of people. Virtually no other charitable cause touches so many people in such a variety of ways. The Red Cross has a massive group of volunteers across the entire United States carrying out 90% of humanitarian work for the organization.

When choosing a place to volunteer, it must be known that the Red Cross truly is about neighbors helping neighbors. For over 150 years the Red Cross has been a backbone of security. We take for granted that the Red Cross will help those in need during an emergency and will be present in our community in the face of hurricanes, floods and more.  However, it takes many volunteers and resources to make it all happen. Life without the Red Cross would not be as safe and secure. Through the years of consistently reaching out to help communities, we are confident in knowing that there is “someone” out there who will help in an emergency.

Ultimately, anyone seeking a wonderful organization to volunteer with should consider the Red Cross! www.redcross.org/volunteer

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Aselina

Did you know that those who volunteer have better health? According to researchers, volunteers “have lower mortality rates, greater functional ability, and lower rates of depression later in life than those who do not volunteer.” This fact came as a surprise to me too! However, after my own research, I realized that there are numerous more benefits to volunteering, such as career exploration, personal growth and other skills. I recently moved to the U.S. to pursue my master’s degree and realized that while volunteering with the American Red Cross I could further develop my communication skills!

My experience for the annual Giving Day with the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region was everything I expected and more! I assisted throughout the telethon and flexed my social media skills, discovered new digital tools and learned more about the organization. For example, I used Periscope to broadcast interviews with volunteers and staff. I also learned the advantages of cloud sharing and quick photo editing tools.

Giving Day was a great experience to see how volunteers and staff support the humanitarian mission across five key service areas. It felt great to help share and promote these services on social media platforms and to see the online community reacting to it. Thanks to this volunteering opportunity, I discovered the Red Cross’s incredible local work and their amazing staff. As soon as I entered the building, a staff member who was busy entangling wires greeted me with a huge smile. Later, I learned that he was Geoff DeLizzio, the COO in the National Capital Region. He and other staff members are always ready to do any work to contribute to the organization’s progress and mission. Besides being funny and friendly, I also learned that people who work at the Red Cross are very professional. They did an amazing job preparing for the Giving Day by creating detailed plans, messages, and many other helpful materials prepared far ahead for the social media team and this is just one of their many amazing attributes!

I recommend anyone and everyone to volunteer with the American Red Cross! It feels great to be part of a professional, passionate, and fun team. It is also a unique opportunity to practice your existing knowledge, learn new and practical skills, and get to know your local organizations work! Redcross.org/Volunteer

LIVE Red Cross Giving Day Telethon

Happy Giving Day! Watch our telethon today from 12-2 pm and join in by calling 202-643-0303. If we each ‪#‎help1family‬, think of what we could do! Make a gift today: https://givingday.redcross.org/region/dc

LIVE Giving Day Telethon April 21

COO Geoff DeLizzio and Yoda from 2015 Giving Day Telethon

If we each ‪#‎help1family‬, think of what we could do! Join us right here for the American Red Cross Giving Day on Thursday April 21 from 12:00 pm until 2:00 pm. We'll be live streaming our second annual telethon and celebrating the thousands of local Red Cross supporters with tips, tricks, and other activities. Make sure to mark your calendar to watch the telethon AND call in to join the fun at 202-643-0303.

Feel good and #help1family. Make a gift today: https://givingday.redcross.org/region/dc

Volunteer Appreciation: For the Love of Helping to Advance People’s Personal Growth

Written by: Brigitte Yuille, volunteer

Volunteering has been a consistent activity throughout my life. However, I never grasped the true benefit of this action until I was an adult. 

During my childhood, I volunteered as a Girl Scout to earn Brownie points. These points would help me get to the next level in the Girl Scout league. I volunteered at church in Middle School and throughout High School. My actions didn’t resonant with me then because I was too frustrated with getting up early on Sunday mornings. However, as I helped a young child learn to read, I noticed that I liked helping people. Volunteering soon equated to going to a good college. The more experience I had and community-minded I became the more it improved my chances of going to a top-tier school. So, for a while the activities were done for my personal advancement. It was more about me.

A year after my mother passed away, I had gone through a depression. I felt so alone in my grief. After listening to a sermon, I decided to volunteer. The message simply was that depression can be self-consuming, and to stop hurting it's best to help others. So, I began volunteering at a juvenile detention center for young women. I also did activities at community events. That’s when I discovered something amazing: pure joy. The legendary talk show host Oprah Winfrey describes joy as having a texture. Well, the more I helped the young women at the detention center by guiding them and just chatting the more joy I felt. It was euphoric. I also developed friendships with other people who volunteered. The benefit was meeting people of good character. I learned to stop focusing on what I don’t have; instead, I focused on what I do have. When I volunteer, I share the valuable lessons my parents have taught me; I share what I have learned from having a comfortable childhood, and I share what I have learned from my struggles to help people get past their own.

Today, I make an effort to volunteer as much as I can. I have even developed events dedicated to advancing conversations that can lead to social change. For example, I produced a panel discussion at the Smithsonian during women’s history month as a Women in Film and Video Board member. The conversation addressed gender equality issues in Hollywood and how to resolve them.

One small act of kindness can alter someone’s life for the better and by helping to improve other people’s lives you ultimately help to relieve people of their pain or struggle.  Another perk: You can be the change that you want to see in the world. 

Happy National Volunteer Appreciation Week!

Become a volunteer: http://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer#step1