The Indiana Region of the American Red Cross would not be able to do what it does for the community without our wonderful volunteers. That is why we decided to launch a new initiative in 2022. Every Tuesday, we will shine the light on a wonderful volunteer or perhaps two wonderful volunteers. On this Thankful Tuesday, we recognize Jesse and Deb McDaniel who serve as DCS and SAF Active Members. We asked him a few questions to help share his Red Cross story.
When did you become a volunteer with the Red Cross?
We began volunteering with the Red Cross in 2010.
Why did you become a Red Crosser?
We watched the devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina back in 2005 and decided that once we both retired, we wanted to volunteer to help with those kinds of disaster relief activities. After joining the American Red Cross, we took a lot of training in a variety of areas and both gravitated towards Mass Care in general and becoming an ERV team in particular. Since that time, we’ve also qualified for the Distribution of Emergency Supplies (DES) and do data input and other activities for the Service to Armed Forces (SAF).
What is your favorite aspect of volunteering?
Being able to give back to our community, state, and other areas of the country through our deployments is the most rewarding thing about volunteering for us. We have been very lucky in our lives to have gotten a good education and had good careers and now, being retired, we can give back by helping those impacted by disasters.
How has your experience impacted you and others?
We’ve been most impressed by the gratitude of the people that we serve who have been directly impacted by a disaster. Seeing a community damaged or destroyed by wind, flooding, or fire leaves a lasting impression on us and being able to help, in even a small way, to support those impacted by a disaster who have lost nearly everything through no fault of their own is very gratifying.
Are you interested in helping your community during a disaster? If you answered yes, we need you! Click here to learn more about how to become a Disaster Action Team volunteer and to apply today.