By Joe Gutierrez, American Red Cross volunteer

For Jeanette Clark, being an American Red Cross volunteer is her way of giving back, particularly to members of the United States armed forces and their families.

“I love helping people, and especially those in the military community,” said a gratified Jeanette. “I recognize just how important each service member is to our country, and I know that even though their families are so proud of what they do, it is often a sacrifice for them in the supportive role as well.”

That dedication to helping others has led to her being named our San Bernardino Chapter’s May Volunteer of the Month.

Jeanette started volunteering last fall as an administrative assistant with Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces at Fort Irwin, which is nearly the size of Rhode Island and about 35 miles north of Barstow. The military base is home to the National Training Center. U.S. troops from all services spend a 21-day rotation at the center before they deploy overseas. Military personnel with the United States’ allies, including NATO, regularly train at the center.

“I have a friend who works with the Red Cross youth group here on Fort Irwin and I was impressed with their focus on International Humanitarian Law,” she said. “When I saw there was a volunteer opening for an administrative assistant, I thought that would be a good way to see if the Red Cross would be a good fit for me.”

In that role, Jeanette would answer the phone and keep the office open at the military base for those who wanted to know more about Red Cross programs.

Later, a fellow Red Cross volunteer at Fort Irwin, Amanda Reeves, told her about Hero Care Network casework, which Jeanette has since supported.

“As a caseworker, I help families of service members who have recently joined the military to learn more about what the Red Cross can do to help them,” Jeanette said. “I also periodically brief soldiers who are new to Fort Irwin so they can be aware of how we can benefit them and their families as well.” 

That awareness also comes from experience as she has seen how Red Cross programs have blessed the lives of those close to her.

“I know what it is like to be concerned about family members who are separated because of deployments or other duties,” Jeanette said. “My husband has served in the U.S. Army for over 20 years, and my son was also recently commissioned as an Army officer. We also have friends who have benefitted from Red Cross Emergency Communication Services over the years.”

Jeanette added that her daughter served as a Red Cross volunteer at the military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany and her husband, Col. Brent Clark, who is a dentist, trained several Red Cross dental assistants. Just last fall, a cousin's life was saved because she received blood from the Red Cross following complications after a back surgery.

“Since my family and I have been helped by the Red Cross and other volunteer organizations over the years, I am motivated to stay involved because I like the fact that I am doing something to give back,” she said.

In emergencies, the American Red Cross helps military families communicate with their loved ones and help facilitate their return home through its Hero Care Network. Available 24/7, the Red Cross connects service members, veterans and their families to this free and confidential assistance any day, anytime. The American Red Cross Hero Care Network includes emergency communication messages, financial assistance, critical community services and more. Last year, the Red Cross helped more than 87,000 families in emergency situations, and nearly 136,000 families received critical community services.

As an example, Jeanette said, just this week, she was speaking to an immigrant whose daughter recently left for U.S. Army Basic training in Fort Jackson, South Carolina.

“He was even more unfamiliar than most about what his daughter was experiencing and how he would be able to communicate with her,” Jeanette said. “It made me feel so good to tell him about the Red Cross Emergency Communications Service, to support him as a fellow military family member and to genuinely thank him for his daughter's valuable service to our country.” 

She added that “one of the best things about volunteering for the Red Cross is knowing that I am doing something that really does make a difference, and hearing the appreciation from those I am able to help.”

For her fellow volunteers and those interested in becoming a volunteer, her message is simple. “Everyone has something to contribute. You can make a difference!"