Without its dedicated volunteers, the Red Cross could not accomplish its mission of alleviating suffering after emergencies. Because of long-time volunteers like Diana McLeary, the Red Cross is the largest humanitarian organization in the world and continues to fulfill its lifesaving mission every day.

Diana has had volunteering in her blood even before joining the Red Cross. She volunteered at soup kitchens and homeless shelters in her free time. There, she learned a great deal about the vulnerabilities people face, motivating her to seek more volunteering opportunities in her community.

Diana started volunteering with the Red Cross nearly 20 years ago after seeing the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. “I felt it was my calling to help. I didn’t know anyone who was personally affected, but I just felt I had to help,” McLeary says. She was deployed to Atlanta, Georgia, where many people from New Orleans and the surrounding areas found shelter. Diana was a caseworker and helped families plan the next steps of their recovery efforts. Since then, she has volunteered in various capacities, assisting our Volunteer Services and Service to the Armed Forces team and volunteering as a shelter coordinator for our Disaster Services department.

Perhaps her fondest deployment story was when she traveled to Tennessee to help a community affected by a tornado. Diana was assigned to help a family for the majority of her deployment. She teamed up with a mental health specialist, nurse, and caseworker to get them the resources they needed to get back on their feet. “The community was so desperate for help and extremely vulnerable. But I know by the end of it all, they were left in good hands,” Diana says.

Diana also volunteers as a Disaster Workforce Engagement volunteer. In this role, she welcomes new volunteers, gauges their skills and abilities and guides them towards a line of service where they can put their skills to use. She advises new volunteers to embrace the Red Cross mission to help communities in times of greatest need. “Everyone likes to be a part of that; that’s why I want to get more people involved because those people have that heart to help their community,” she says.

Diana has a Latino background and understands the hardships communities face, especially after disasters. Latino neighborhoods, especially in South Florida, can be highly vulnerable to flooding and the impacts of hurricanes. With the Red Cross, Diana hopes to continue providing services to underserved communities, like installing free smoke alarms and providing disaster preparedness resources. By preparing them before emergencies, the recovery process will hopefully be less strenuous.

“Volunteers usually wear many hats, so I will continue serving my community in any role where I can make the most impact,” Diana says. Nonetheless, she believes volunteering with the Red Cross has been one of the most rewarding experiences. To become a volunteer like Diana, visit redcross.org/SFLvolunteer.

Written by Anagha Iyer, American Red Cross Public Affairs