John McCarty and his wife, LaShaunrda, share the same baseline: you show up for people.

John serves as Executive Director in southeast Mississippi. LaShaunrda volunteers on the communications team. John will tell you his American Red Cross journey started with her. She saw the job posting and said, “Babe, this job is for you. The description is your core values.”

John said the work has given him the sense of impact he’d been looking for, and it has helped them protect time to step away and recharge.

When things got busy during Winter Storm Fern, that mattered. John shared that LaShaunrda was his sounding board, helping him frame tough conversations and work through difficult situations. LaShaunrda shared a proud moment of her own at a volunteer celebration, listening as John thanked the team for the many roles it takes to serve a community. She calls him “the man with the big heart.”

For Valentine’s Day, they keep it simple. LaShaunrda said their favorite dates are experiential, the kind where you make a memory. John said it’s really just time to recharge with his love and best friend. He says, "Just being in her presence is all that I need."

Happy Valentine’s Day, John and LaShaunrda. Thank you for being part of our Red Cross family.