Patti Shannon, Hawaii State Chapter, Honolulu

Photo: Debby MacSwain/American Red Cross

After retiring as an educator and experiencing Hurricane Ivan as a Peace Corp volunteer in Jamaica, I came home to Hawaii looking for something to do. I saw an advertisement on a Website for a volunteer to help with Red Cross youth. I applied, was interviewed, and soon found myself overseeing the Hawaii State Chapter youth club program, which involves 500 teens ages 14-18 in 17 high schools on Oahu, Maui and Hawaii.

Many students join the Red Cross eager to save lives. I use my own experience to educate them.

I was a Red Cross first aid and CPR instructor in the 1980s in Los Angeles. The one time I had an opportunity to help someone, it was an elderly lady who was hit by a bus. I was in my car, saw the accident, pulled over and assisted the unconscious woman until paramedics arrived. The woman was taken to the hospital, but later died.

I tell them this story because I want them to learn new skills and do something with those skills, but I also want them to be realistic. I'm really proud of their accomplishments, but I think I'm the lucky one. Volunteering is very selfish. It's about feeling good and feeling useful.

 Read more "Why I Help" stories
 Read about the 2008 American Red Cross ad campaign, "Change a Life"