By Joe Gutierrez, American Red Cross volunteer

Wendy Caufield, a valued member of the American Red Cross Orange County Chapter and its logistics team, has been named the April 2024 Volunteer of the Month, though it really shouldn’t come as a surprise.

Ask Wendy, who joined the Red Cross in April 2014, what she likes about being a volunteer and her voice perks up and her face beams. She doesn’t hesitate to share her thoughts, especially about what she does.

“I love being part of the logistics team. The variety of jobs and especially the people make it a fun place to work,” she said. “The people here make this place home. I love them all. They give me the freedom to be my weird self.”

Like other volunteers, Wendy’s dedication, motivation and willingness to help whenever the need arises stands out. But in logistics, which Wendy said she has grown to love, it is especially evident because of the many different tasks they take on and are responsible for. 

“Our activities are varied. We drive several vehicles. The Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) is used for feeding. The Mission Response Vehicle (MRV) is used for hauling cargo. For example, we supply Sound the Alarm events. The Disaster Response Vehicle (DRV) is used for Disaster Action Team calls. I keep it well stocked and organized.”

Her first exposure to the Red Cross involved her husband, Rod Caufield, who as a little boy was rescued along with other family members from the roof of their house by a helicopter when a landslide engulfed their house. The rescue story was pictured in National Geographic, copies of which the couple still has. But Rod’s family lost everything in the mudslide, including his toys and his bicycle.

“In the tragic event, insurance wouldn’t cover them, but the Red Cross helped them by giving them a complete set of encyclopedias. It was a comfort to know someone wanted to help. That’s why I want to be a part of this humanitarian organization,” she said.

Years later, Wendy joined the organization at a Red Cross open house after meeting with the event leader, Madelyn Spiegelberg, who made a “lasting impression on me by her warmth and interest in me. And to this day, she’s just as special to me.”

The Red Cross has been a good fit for her. “Knowing I can help someone and the wonderful feeling I get is what all Red Cross members hope for. The hard part is feeling someone’s sorrow when I can’t fix it,” she said.

Wendy added that she knew she was in the right organization when she worked under Janet Harvey, the Logistics Warehouse Team Leader for Orange County.

“When I had doubts about myself, she lifted me up. When I have ideas, she sparks up with encouragement. We think really similarly,” Wendy said. “Janet is an amazing leader, educator and friend.”

She said she knew logistics was right department for her during the El Dorado Fire that burned 22,744 acres in San Bernardino and Riverside counties from September to November 2020.

“I was in charge of driving the ERV, loading it with meals and delivering it to hotels and motels where people stayed after losing everything,” Wendy said. “This one day a man, seeing that we also handed out toys, said his granddaughter kept asking for a toy stroller. Well, I had a doll and gave it to him.”

But Wendy remembered seeing a toy stroller amongst the supplies and other items for those families affected by the fire.

The next day people, including the grandfather, were lined up to the ERV as Wendy and another volunteer handed out food and supplies from two large popout windows. 

“When he (the grandfather) walked up. I pushed the stroller out the window. The line behind him quickly learned of the little girl’s wish and started clapping,” she said. “It was pretty special.” 

And in that same line, was a man and his pet German Shepherd.   

Wendy had a feeling the man was prepared to share his meal with his buddy. After looking for some options, Wendy found some food to give to the dog.

“That memory still makes me smile.”

It’s that feeling of knowing that the Red Cross can make a difference that makes her grateful for the volunteers she works with.

“I’d like to say, ‘Thank You. You are all why I love to be here.’” 

She also encourages people to join the Red Cross.

“Your individual gifts will be nurtured and you will be a better person,” Wendy said.