We Salute Suzette: Red Cross Volunteer and Salute to Senior Service Contestant

by Catherine Carlton, volunteer contributor 

Volunteer Suzette Alexander

With our ongoing disaster relief efforts in West, Boston and the Midwest, it's clearer than ever how important our volunteers are to our work. In fact, volunteers represent more than 90 percent of our work force. We close out National Volunteer Week by profiling one of our terrific East Texas volunteers, Suzette Alexander, of Longview.

Suzette joined the Red Cross volunteer brigade like many others following Hurricane Katrina. She started with the midnight to 7:00 a.m. shift. She's been working in shelters during hurricanes since then. 

"While there I saw the need for volunteers trained for sheltering and started taking courses for sheltering, Mass Care Feeding and Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) driving," she said. "I really enjoy helping at the scene and working with others." 

Her desire to help others continued when she was introduced to Meals on Wheels and their need for volunteer drivers, too. 

"At first I had only about 15 (meal deliveries) each day but I enjoyed it so much they gave me more -- like 50 a day now," Suzette said, noting after her deliveries she goes to the Red Cross to see what help she can do there. "My day is not complete without seeing my ‘customers’ at Meals on Wheels and Red Cross." 

Her friend Laura Hann nominated her in the Salute to Senior Service Contest, from Home Instead Senior Care.

You can vote daily for Suzette today through April 30. She is in the running for as much as $5,000 for the charity of her choice, which is the Red Cross. 

"I just wish I had more hours in a day to do more!" she said when asked why someone should vote for her. "I am so thankful every day that I can go and give what I can and share with others! That's all I know to say and if others would like to vote for this ole girl then I can help even more." 

To join Suzette & begin your volunteer story with the Red Cross, visit us at RedCross.org.

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National Volunteer Week: Q&A with Director of Volunteer Services Susie Spartano

by Kristen Kerr, volunteer contributor

As the American Red Cross continues to respond to the tragedies in West, Texas and Boston, along with flooding in the Midwest, we wanted to take some time to recognize the hundreds of volunteers deployed to each of those disasters, as well as the thousands more who make it possible for us to respond to nearly 70,000 disasters every year. From tornadoes and hurricanes to single-family apartment fires, Red Cross volunteers are ready to respond 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

American Red Cross Director
of Volunteer Services,
North Texas Region
Susie Spartano

Recently, I had the pleasure of sitting down and talking to the Director of Volunteer Services in the North Texas Region, Susie Spartano, to learn more about what she does at the Red Cross and what makes a great Red Cross volunteer.

Q: Tell me a little bit about yourself and what it is that made you want to come to the Red Cross?

A: I always worked for for-profit so coming into a non-profit and reading the mission statement and absorbing the fact that the whole organization is here for the benefit of taking care of people was something that was foreign to me. I remember reading the mission statement and thinking ‘wow, this is so cool.’ 

Q: How long have you been with the Red Cross?

A: 13 years

Q: How has the job changed since you first started?

A: Actually having technology in regards to managing the volunteer services workforce is the biggest change. Everything used to be paper; manuals, Excel spreadsheets, training materials, etc. so trying to track and support a volunteer workforce of 6,000+ people and do it via Excel was difficult. Technology does allow us to respond in a way that people expect; we are better able, I think, to match the needs of the public, especially in a large metropolitan area. For example, we recently launched our new online volunteer system, Volunteer Connection.  

Q: What is it about the work that you do that has inspired you to stay?

A: As a human resource professional, I look into how to build an organization that supports the business, but also supports the individual. I feel strongly that a happy worker is one that is going to provide the organization with value, so being able to take that concept and apply it to a volunteer organization is really challenging and interesting. I just love being here and managing volunteers.

Q: What are some obstacles that you have faced while on the job?

A: The biggest one that sticks out is the re-organization of the Red Cross. It changed the way we work and the way that we look at our organization and we are still basically in the middle of that. Another big one that I want to give credit to is Hurricane Katrina. When Katrina hit, the Dallas Area Chapter had me and one other person working in the volunteer services area, and we were so overwhelmed. We were used to getting 25 paper applications per month, and we got about 800 in three weeks after Katrina. However, in a situation like that there is no place else you want to be because you can be a part of the solution. 

Q: What are some of your favorite moments with the Red Cross?

A: Realizing after Katrina that we served more than 24,000 people in a month and being a part of that team was life changing. I remember being in the shelter and it was an amazing experience because of course the shelter was like a small city; thousands of people were living there. I’ll never forget this one little girl who needed to go the bathroom so I took her and her little brother. As we’re walking to the restroom, I look down at her and I say “Okay angel, come on this way” and she goes (with a sassy attitude), “My names not angel!” She was so cute! Having the experience of Katrina in my life and being able to apply that so we do it better next time has been gratifying. 

Q: What does your day-to-day job entail?

A: A lot of oversight and building for the future. My main concern everyday is how we are serving our potential volunteers, that is our potential workforce as well as the department we serve. How are we responding to both of their needs, and then always looking at ways in how can we do things better; we can always take it to the next level.  

Q: What kind of challenges do you run into during your day-to-day?

A: Trying to address the cultural differences of our large geographic area is something we do quite a bit. You realize that every single community we serve is different; another big thing is how we make our workforce diverse.  

Q: Lastly, in your opinion what attributes do you think it takes to be a good volunteer?

A: To be a Red Cross volunteer, you have to be dedicated to serving the Red Cross clients and you have to have passion for taking care of people in need that have been affected by disaster or emergency. You have to want to help others because we ask a lot of our volunteers. They do everything across the organization. You have to be willing to go in and do what ever it takes. You should also be vocal because we become better when we all come together collectively. 

Volunteers work seven days a week, 365 days a year. If its 3 a.m. and there’s a flood or house fire, you can bet that our volunteers have received a phone call and are on their way. Therefore, next time you see someone in a Red Cross vest helping out their fellow man, just remember that they are more than likely a volunteer and are helping completely free of charge. 

If you are interested in being a part of the Red Cross volunteer force, please visit RedCross.org/DFW for additional information. Volunteer opportunities range anywhere from disaster preparedness to public affairs to mental health counseling. There is never a better time than now to help those in need. 

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Doing Good Through Grief: Meet American Red Cross Volunteer Corey Hutchins

written by Amy Yen, volunteer contributor

Corey Hutchins has found new purpose and friends through her volunteer position at the Red Cross.
Photo courtesy of Corey Hutchins

Corey Hutchins had always planned to volunteer with the Red Cross, it just didn’t happen the way she expected it to. She was moving to Okinawa, where her fiancé was due to be stationed with the Air Force. She didn’t have any definite plans for a job, but one thing she knew she wanted to do was volunteer. The one organization she knew would definitely be there and would definitely need her help was the Red Cross.

But then her fiancé died in a motorcycle accident.

“When he died, I decided I wanted to have that part of our life anyway,” said Corey. “That’s why I started. It was sort of to help me pull my life back together.”

She started to volunteer with the Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) offices in Dallas, which manages the chapter’s more than 500 volunteers who have received training to respond to disasters.

“I started going in and having a schedule and a routine, working with these great people,” she explained. “And it helped pull me through some of my grief.”

As a DSHR volunteer partner and administrator, Corey works to keep the members’ applications and records up-to-date, so that they can be quickly deployed in case of a disaster. She also helps track the volunteers once they’re deployed, so the system is always up to date on where volunteers are and where they are needed.

Maintaining the database is hard work and an often overlooked task, but is vitally important in order for the Red Cross to know what human resources are available when a disaster hits.

“It’s not the most glamorous job in the world, but it’s important. We’re the best organized chapter in the region and one of the best in the nation,” she said. That organization saves valuable time when a disaster does happen. “That means a lot to me to be a part of that.”

Corey was interested in doing more to drive volunteer engagement, so recently she started sending members something called the DSHR GAP of the Week email. Each email showcases a different volunteer position, describing what the position does, what training it entails and showing visuals from the job. It is designed to get volunteers interested so that they can be trained to qualify for different positions and become a deployable member.

Corey is clearly a big part of DSHR’s success in the region, but she says the Red Cross helped her as well.

“The people at the Red Cross are like family to me. They really helped talk me through my grief and it just helped to feel connected to them,” she said.

In fact, she even met someone through the Red Cross. She says volunteering was vital for her recovery, giving her a schedule and something to do during her initial period of grief.

“It gave me a purpose, it gave me a family,” she said. Corey encourages others to volunteer as well. “So many people are in need. So many people just need a loving voice on the phone when they call in to say that their house has burned down and they have nothing. They need to be able to see your face and hold your hand. If you’re a caring individual and you have a little bit of time, or a little bit of money, even if it’s not very much, even if it’s an hour a month or $10 a month, you’re still making a huge difference in someone’s life. And it’s always worth it.”

And if you’re thinking about volunteering, but you’re not sure or you just haven’t taken the steps to do it yet, Corey says: “You should go for it. Because you have no idea how it’s going to change your life. I thought that maybe it would be something I would do occasionally, and now I can’t imagine my life without it.”

To get started volunteering today, check out Red Cross Dallas or click here to learn more about what classes you can take to qualify for different positions to help.

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A Life of Purpose: Why Retired Army Colonel Jim Myers Serves with the Red Cross

written by Amy Yen, volunteer contributor 



As our volunteer, Jim Myers, explains, no one expects a home fire to happen to them.

Watch the video above to learn more about how to stay safe should it happen to you!

Video courtesy of Red Cross Chicago.

Jim Myers, age 64, is a retired Army colonel, father, grandfather and volunteer. Instead of relaxing or traveling in his retirement, he gives his time to the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) in Collin County. He responds to local disasters, answering calls at all times of the day or night to provide immediate relief and support to individuals and families in their greatest time of need.


It’s nothing new. Jim Myers spent 10 years in active military service and another 27 in the Army reserve, spending his final assignment supporting FEMA. During that time, he responded to 22 disasters. That’s when he first came in contact with the Red Cross.

“Working with FEMA, I was well aware of the Red Cross,” said Jim. “The Red Cross is essential to response and recovery during disasters.”

When he finally retired, Jim went to volunteer for the local Red Cross and was immediately recruited onto the DAT team. In his first month, he was called to three grass fires. His first house fire came at 4:00 in the morning. He arrived on the scene to find that the dog had gotten the family out before the smoke detectors had even gone off. With his basic DAT workshop training, he went straight to work; comforting the family and helping them start on their road to recovery.

“The family was shell-shocked. They didn’t know what to expect after the fire. The dog was there with his chest out, thinking, ‘I just saved my family!” he recalls. “I just reminded them that as terrible as it looks, everything there can be replaced. Your family is alright and we’ll put you in a motel tonight. Before you know it, you’ll be watching TV with your feet up, eating pizza. You’re all going to be safe.”

Jim says that what’s important is helping a family go from “shell-shock” to optimism that they will recover. “We help them realize it’s not the end of the world even though it might feel like it at the time.”

Jim did a damage assessment on the scene and gave the family plastic bags to put some clothes in. They went in to rescue valuables, like family albums that couldn’t be replaced and gave the kids each a teddy bear.

“There’s a payback to volunteering. The personal connection—when you give the kids a teddy bear and see a smile on their face even after a disaster—that’s the payback,” said Jim. “I’ve got four children of my own and six grandchildren, so I know about kids. You’ve got to give them hope, and we do that.”

Jim encourages volunteers to take all the Red Cross classes they can; from the DAT workshop, which he says is a necessity for anyone working on-site at a disaster, to psychological first-aid, which helps volunteers understand what the victims are going through.

To learn more about the Disaster Action Team and other opportunities to volunteer locally during National Volunteer Week, check out redcrossdallas.org.

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Red Cross Volunteer Megan Mercer: From Barbies to Brain Surgery and Back Again

By Lilly Watson, American Red Cross Communications Assignments Coordinator

Rex Anne Waggoner, contributor, American Red Cross volunteer

Megan and her happy baby that we lovingly call Johnnie Mac!

Just a few years ago, Megan Mercer was a self-sufficient early intervention specialist working with special needs children in the Dallas area. A routine MRI as part of a physical she needed to join the Peace Corps suddenly changed her life dramatically. Megan discovered that day that she had tumors surrounding the stem of her brain. Over the next few years Megan would have to leave her career, undergo multiple brain surgeries and re-teach herself how to complete tasks as simple to us as walking and talking. As Megan worked to reclaim her life and confidence, she drew from her family history of volunteering and philanthropy and found the American Red Cross in Dallas, Texas.

“Helping others and self sacrifice were big deals in our family. I grew up volunteering with my family,” Megan told us. “When I was not able to work due to my recoveries from brain surgery, volunteering helped me retain my professional skills, be more social and confident, and helped pass the time.”

What do Barbie, MASH and the Red Cross have in common? Megan explained to us how many of her favorite childhood experiences came together to form a passion for helping people affected by disaster.

“When I was younger, I would take all my Barbies and pile them up like a tornado had hit and then I would take one Barbie (the prettiest, of course) who was a "nurse" who would drag the people out and lay each one on stretchers made out of toilet paper sheets,” Megan said. “I watched MASH with my siblings, so I guess that is why I did that. I have always known of the Red Cross but first had contact with them because we had to take CPR for work. I was so busy with work, that I couldn't volunteer, but that all changed in 2006 when I had my first brain surgery.”

Megan’s brain surgery impacted her physical body – she had to use a walker, had vision and hearing impairment and had weakness in the right side of her body – but her spirit for helping others and her cognitive brain function were still raring to go, so she came to the Red Cross to utilize those talents, working in our Dallas Area Chapter as a Volunteer Coordinator.

“I was impressed by how kind everyone was. The position was great for me. No heavy lifting, no movement, just talking to people on the phone. And I got to practice things like sitting in a chair, typing on a computer, walking to the coffee bar, pouring a cup and not spilling it everywhere - simple stuff that I had to relearn. It was awesome therapy!

“The Red Cross helped me feel like a normal human being! Everyone was so helpful and so respectful. In many ways, it helped me realize that although my body had changed, I was still the same old Megan. I am so thankful for my Red Cross experience.”

Hearing stories like Megan’s make all of us at the Red Cross so proud to be part of the world’s largest volunteer organization. When we asked Megan what advice she would give someone looking to volunteer at the Red Cross, she summed it up perfectly, “All you need to volunteer is a desire to give of yourself, time and an open heart and mind to learn. Just take the plunge and see where the Red Cross river leads you!”

To become an American Red Cross volunteer anywhere in the country, click on redcross.org to find your local Red Cross chapter.

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