March is Red Cross Month! It’s a time to focus on the amazing work our volunteers do day in and day out, 24/7. These individuals are the heartbeat of our organization, and their selfless service is what makes our lifesaving mission possible across all lines of service.

In Kalispell, a Red Cross volunteer is helping communities near and far. JO SCOTT most recently assisted Red Crossers in the Cascades Region with disaster casework.

“I have had the privilege to not only get to work with the dedicated people in my region but to get to know people from other areas. I love being able to help them help our clients,” she wrote.

Jo has volunteered with the Red Cross since 2005. Before that, she witnessed the devastation caused by historic flooding in Northern California in 1986.

“My parents lived in a flooded mobile home park along the river, and as the firemen evacuated everyone by boat, I noticed that so many of the people there were older, couldn’t help themselves and didn’t know what to do. “

The experience was a turning point for Jo; she turned empathy into action and got to work.

“No one should have to go through a traumatic event like that alone, and I thought I could help,” she wrote. “I became a full-time disaster action team member in Montana a few years after that.”

Since then, she’s done everything from serving on the Flathead County Leadership Council to becoming a blood donor ambassador at blood drives. But another opportunity to help others through the Red Cross would present itself.

“In 2021 when I was asked if I would consider adding on a new duty, I immediately said yes.”

Jo is one of two Red Cross regional event administrators and plays a critical role in ensuring other volunteers have the tools they need to open cases during a disaster.

“I find I really enjoy doing the kind of support things that help the rest of the volunteers do their jobs,” she wrote.

She likes to stay behind the scenes, but Jo makes a huge difference in the lives of volunteers and residents facing tragedy.

“I am constantly in awe when I hear what our volunteers do,” she wrote. “Their caring, compassion and dedication amaze and humble me, and I am happy to do whatever I can to make things easier for them and our clients.”

***
VICKI RUBY's Red Cross journey began 25 years ago when what was supposed to be a lunch date with a friend turned into an opportunity to serve others. A storm had caused flooding in Culbertson, Mont., and her friend, a Red Cross volunteer, was asked to deploy 50 miles to help residents.

“’Come with me!’ (Kathy Jensen) said,” Vicki wrote. “So instead of sharing lunch, Kathy introduced me to the Red Cross. A couple of months later, she took me to my first training class in Wolf Point, Montana – a trip of more than a hundred miles from our homes.”

The Plentywood resident now plays a vital role in disaster action teams’ response capabilities in northeastern Montana, where some services are scarce.

“Our official status is not even ‘rural’ -- it’s ‘frontier,”’ she wrote. “I joined as a volunteer because I believe in the Red Cross mission to help people facing a crisis, and I wanted to be sure that my community had access to Red Cross resources. I’ve stayed because I’ve found that Red Cross staff and volunteers have the best hearts anywhere!”

Those who have the pleasure of working with Vicki say she “goes above and beyond for our clients, is flexible in odd situations, and is, most importantly, kind.”

Vicki’s currently working in a mainly virtual role, handling casework for both Disaster Services and Service to the Armed Forces.

“I really appreciate the advances in technology that allow me to continue reaching out to people close to home and far away.”

***

Whether it’s here at home or serving abroad, many of our volunteers are dedicated to supporting our troops by helping to reunite service members and veterans with loved ones through life’s triumphs and tragedies.

For Lewiston, Idaho, resident and Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces and International Services volunteer ANGELA WARTEL, this line of service’s mission is personal. Her grandfather had been deployed overseas during World War II when he received word that his mother was dying. Angela wrote the American Red Cross and the U.S. Navy made the trip back home from the Solomon Islands possible.

“Although he didn’t make it in time to see his mother, he expressed his gratitude towards the organization for their support,” she wrote. “One act of kindness can have a profound impact not only on an individual but can also ripple down through the generations. So here I am! Serving others has always been a large part of my life. With the American Red Cross, I can make a difference.”

Angela joined the Red Cross as a disaster response volunteer in July 2021 during Idaho’s wildfire season and became part of the Service to the Armed Forces/International Services team shortly after.

“I happily took the position. Not a single regret. I feel privileged to be a part of such an amazing organization.”

Along with being a Disaster Action Team responder and SAF/IS volunteer, she’s also taught basic international humanitarian law. All of these experiences help Angela protect and connect communities in Nez Perce County and beyond with resources and support.

“One of my favorite memories was when Sheila Warner and I, along with Max Nuxoll and Mary Kress, delivered items to the Idaho State Veterans Home in Lewiston. It was heartwarming to witness the gratitude displayed by the facility,” she wrote. “The American Red Cross truly supports our troops and veterans, which I deeply value. It motivates me to do more, and I am looking forward to future opportunities to serve our active-duty service members and veterans.”

She encourages Red Cross volunteers and supporters to get involved by becoming part of the SAF/IS team.

“I firmly believe in the organization's mission, which has made my experiences gratifying and humbling,” she wrote. “If anyone is interested in volunteering for SAF/IS, please reach out. We would love to have you on the team!”

No matter what your passion, expertise or experience, the Red Cross has a volunteer role for you. To learn more about our lines of service and the volunteer opportunities available visit redcross.org/volunteer.