By Lakyn Webb, American Red Cross

 Melody Smith says her most important American Red Cross mission moment came when her husband experienced a medical emergency and her son was in Iraq serving with the 101st Airborne Division. Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces located the young sergeant and had him home within four days.

Mel says service is in her DNA, but volunteering with the Red allows her to be part of something bigger than big. She has worn many Red Cross hats with the Red Cross since her volunteer career began in May of 2020 and is currently the Missouri-Arkansas Volunteer Youth and Young Adult Lead, working with youth and young adults ages 13-24 in the 199 counties of the two states. She also works in school systems and universities to establish Red Cross Clubs and academic service learning programs, along with partnerships with universities and one-on-one internship programs.

Red Cross Clubs help middle school, high school, and university students make a difference in their communities while developing their leadership skills. Academic Service Learning encourages high school and university students to combine meaningful service to the community with curriculum-based learning. And Project based internships are available to university students.

Mel pairs students with influential leaders, drawing on her thirty-plus years of experience in education to build the region’s Youth and Young Adults programs. She says the phenomenal success of the program is because of the fantastic MOAR Volunteer Service team. The pandemic made it necessary for the team to innovate, but the number of Red Cross Clubs grew from 4 to 15 in just two short years, and the academic service-learning program grew from just one student in 2021 to two students in 2022, and is planning to have four in 2023.

Mel’s philosophy is simple: she plants the seed of service and volunteerism wherever she can. Her goal is to engage young students and help them find the right place to serve. If their experience with the Red Cross is impactful and powerful in their hearts and minds they will remain volunteers and stay connected to the Red Cross as adults. For her outstanding service Mel received the 2022 American Red Cross Missouri-Arkansas Region Support Services Volunteer Impact Award. She plans to continue supporting new and emerging young leaders, inspiring them to remain connected to the Red Cross for life.