Evelyn: Disaster Spiritual Care Volunteers in Action

In a disaster, people often find they are stunned by their circumstances. Adding Disaster Spiritual Care to the other Red Cross disaster services helps families regroup, refocus and transition to the next critical set of decisions they will make. Evelyn says “building client trust” in these events is a primary goal of Disaster Spiritual Care.  Evelyn’s favorite pastimes are gardening,

A WWII Soldier Finally Comes Home to Rest

With the Help of His Family, Military, Veterans, Partners and a Community of Red Cross Volunteers One night in July 2021, SSgt. Sidney Brookman, an active-duty member of the U.S. Air Force based in Charleston, SC, heard from her grandmother on the phone. “She told me, ‘You’ll never guess what happened — your uncle’s been identified.’” At first, Brookman was

Help Can’t Wait, Volunteer Today

Dennis Driscoll, of Fayetteville, NC, sees his role as a volunteer on the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team as an opportunity to give back to the community. Driscoll, who served in the military for 35 years, said: “The Red Cross and the community supported us when we were deployed around the world. Now that I’m home, I try to

How an 11-year-old Girl is Reassured of a Prosperous Life

Molly appears to be your average eleven-year-old, who loves to play with her pets and from time to time, chases her two brothers around the house. Yet, there is something very extraordinary about her. As an infant, she was diagnosed with an inherited blood disorder called Beta Thalassemia Major, which prevents her body from generating enough protein to charge the

Like Kevin, Be the Change You Wish to See

Meet Kevin Zorc, a Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer in Dare County, North Carolina for over 4 years. Kevin is well trained and remains flexible 4 to 6 hours a week for any emergency call. He works in coordination with a trained team. The DAT volunteers are broken down into smaller teams in communities. They help people affected by home

Within minutes, the apartment complex was bursting into flames

In the early morning hours of Saturday, August 7, 2021, residents of a Fayetteville apartment complex were suddenly awakened by the sound of smoke alarms and fellow neighbors pounding on doors, yelling “Fire, Get Out!”  Dazed and confused, residents quickly saw smoke and their building on fire. One woman described a frantic scramble to get out after her barking dog

“Blood Donations GAVE US MORE TIME”

“I was married to the most amazing man, Cody, for many happy years. In 2018, we had our amazing miracle son Eli. In 2019, when Eli was just four months old, Cody was diagnosed with cancer. He battled for the next year and a half. During that time, he received 63 pints of blood. Each of those transfusions were a

WIFE REMEMBERS HER CPR Training AND SAVES HUSBAND’s LIFE

November 27, 2020, started as an ordinary day for Pat Gunter and her husband, Topsail Beach Commissioner John Gunter. Pat was in the kitchen while her husband was in the bedroom when she heard a terrible crash. She ran into the room to see John lying on the floor, face down. She ran to him and lifted his head up.

This Red Crosser Takes Her Passion for Helping People Wherever She Goes

Story by Melissa Kaye, American Red Cross Marsha Kitter knew she wanted to be involved with the Red Cross after an incident while visiting her family in New Jersey on a break from Marietta College, more than 50 years ago. “We were having dinner at a restaurant, and a person went to the bathroom with difficulty breathing,” Kitter explained, who

After a Medical Mystery, Blood Donations SAVed My LIFE

Story by Tiffany M. Harris, American Red Cross 2019 ended a medical mystery that I had been going through for years. My health was changing and there was no answer as to why. I had several medical procedures, tests and scans after the next. The final diagnosis of adenomyosis was determined by my dedicated gynecologist. This brought me a great sense of relief.