By Josh Davis, Red Cross volunteer

In the midst of her military service and pursuit of a second master's degree in social work, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Delia Amadiz discovered a unique opportunity to make a meaningful impact within the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) program at Walter Reed Military Medical Center in Bethesda.

“There were a lot of reasons why I started [volunteering with the Red Cross] – and then I just liked it,” she said. “I really like working with the people.”

On any given day, Amadiz said she may work on emergency communications, family services or help with Critical Community Service Cases. That often means contacting military families to let them know what kinds of services are available through the Red Cross.

“Our Critical Community Service Cases are more in need of immediate help,” she said. “It could be someone who needs help with financial assistance, so we try to find resources in their area that can provide that assistance. Or, if they're homeless, we try to find homeless shelter in that areas that that are available to them.”

The Red Cross also connects veterans and military families with resources to help them pay their utility bills.

“There are a lot of programs out there, and we try to be as knowledgeable as we can about them to help people find programs that are meaningful to them,” she said.

Amadiz said the work fits well within her schedule and has been extremely rewarding.

“You're managing cases and you're taking care of the clients’ needs, and it's not far off from what I want to do [in social work], which is working with service members,” she said.

“I have been on the phone with a client and, even though they are angry and struggling, sometimes even if you can’t get them everything they want or need they’ll say, ‘it was enough just to have you listen to me,’” she said. “Sometimes that's all it is – they're just looking to be heard. A lot of doors have closed on a lot of people [who call the Red Cross,] and they're hoping that we're that door that's going to open for them.”

Amadiz said she’s recruited many service members to volunteer for the Red Cross with a simple pitch.

“I always say it’s easy hours and great reward,” she said. “Sure, sometimes it can be difficult dealing with certain situations, and it can be overwhelming. But most cases take 10 to 15 minutes or less, and if we have a load of caseworkers doing just one case a day it can make a big difference in the queue.

“Remote casework works really well for service members, because they can do it from anywhere, anytime,” she continued. “A lot of the time you can sit at home after work or take 10 to 15 minutes from your lunch and knock out several cases,” she added.

What’s more, at Walter Reed, volunteer service members get to help other service members in need.

“You learn to love it, because you're serving others in the same uniform,” Amadiz said. “Who better to serve the Red Cross than the service members?”

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Over 20,000 American Red Cross volunteers are veterans, making up 14% of the total workforce.

Veterans hold many positions at the Red Cross, from nurses to logisticians, as well as emergency management experts and project managers. There are also a number of veterans in leadership roles at local Red Cross chapters across the United States.

To help make a difference in your community, visit redcross.org/volunteer.