By: Sriadithi Mamilla, Red Cross Youth Volunteer

The evening chill in Wilmington, DE this past winter was sharp, but at the annual Stockings for Soldiers event, the air had a completely different energy, an energy that went far past the frost on the windows and the winter air. My friends and I stood among a sea of handmade Christmas stockings and the scents of  warm spices, excited to begin crafting bundles of love and warmth for our troops. The sight of the arrangement felt both vast and personal. What I still remember to this day, however, was the crowd of my peers from Appoquinimink High School. Despite the forty-minute drive from Middletown, an overwhelming number of students showed up with enthusiasm and an intention to support our troops, proving that there truly is no barrier to contributing to an act of humanity. I observed as my friends from our HOSA-Future Health Proessionals and Red Cross clubs filled the sparkly stockings with hygiene items, while students from BPA and beyond added meal ingredients and personalized cards later in the process. At that moment, while adding a packet of ramen noodles and a chapstick to a blue and red stocking, I realized that the red of the holiday season and the vibrant red of the stockings was connected to the red of the Red Cross through much more than a color. These three symbols were connected through the shared value of service.

As we continued to stuff these stockings to the brim over the course of four hours, the connection between the fun volunteer event and the global mission of the Red Cross was made clear through the tangible impact of our efforts. The red colored fabric in our hands was a direct contribution to one of the five lines of service in the Red Cross ─Service to the Armed Forces (SAF). Volunteering on that day wasn't just about the snacks or trinkets we added to a colorful sack of fabric, but about an act of humanity in the most genuine form. According to the Red Cross’s Fundamental Principles, the organization aspires to prevent and alleviate human suffering in any capacity. The completion of  each stocking brought each and every volunteer closer to that collective goal. Actively working to guard the morale and health of our country’s service members, Appoquinimink High School’s volunteers established this initiative as a way to provide something to those serving on the front lines every single day.

Personally, this event gave me a tangible experience that opened my eyes to what it really means to be “Bound by Red.” I had the opportunity of learning the unifying power of the Red Cross, and its power to bring people together from all sorts of backgrounds to support the common goal of alleviating human suffering through humanitarian efforts. This activity allowed us to promote the mutual understanding and friendship that seamlessly connected our efforts in the second smallest state in our country to a battlefield or base across the world. When I had finally packed my last stocking, the warehouse had ceased to feel like a cluttered space. Rather, it had transformed into a symbol of lasting peace and cooperation that I am sure my peers and I will continue to carry with us throughout high school and beyond. Despite our fatigue, we all left Wilmington with the knowledge that through the spirit and guidance of humanity, we are capable of delivering care and support for those who need it the most, whether that be through a global Red Cross initiative or a small gathering of high school volunteers in a Delaware warehouse.

Through every stocking filled and every hour of the event, the Appoquinimink High School student community, including myself, proved that when we are bound by red, the simple act of stuffing a stocking can transform into the universal message of humanity and hope.