By Samantha Ferrer

“Why do you volunteer with the Red Cross?” That is the question every Red Cross volunteer is asked. The simplest answer is: “the rewarding feeling of smiles on the faces of those that we are helping; that’s the greatest gift a volunteer can receive,” said Carlos Irigoyen, Louisiana Red Cross volunteer.

As a first-time volunteer in the communications area covering the Open House hosted by the Louisiana Red Cross in the Baton Rouge Capital Area-West chapter warehouse, I saw nothing but smiles all day; genuine, affectionate smiles that radiated pride and love for being a Red Cross volunteer. At the end of the day, my face ached from smiling so much. I felt a sense of belonging with my fellow Red Crossers that I’ve rarely ever experienced. Upon hearing their anecdotes, I knew I wanted to continue my volunteering journey with the Red Cross.

One of the various inspiring Red Cross volunteer stories that I had the pleasure of listening to was that of Carolyn Adams, who has been a volunteer for 21 years. She saw ads on television expressing the need for volunteers at the Red Cross, so she decided to join the team. To her, there is no greater satisfaction than helping people; that is something that needs no justification.

Carolyn started her volunteer journey by sheltering, where she created bonds with her fellow volunteers. Friendships, as well as a deep sense of caring for those she was of service to, blossomed. She also participated in Damage Assessment and Distribution of Emergency Supplies after disasters such as floods and hurricanes, and eventually, she dispatched to other states such as North Carolina and Florida to help with disaster relief and recovery.

“It can be intimidating to some; you have to learn as you go, and you do so by gaining hands-on experience,” said Carolyn, whose favorite part of volunteering is interacting with people.

Hers was one of many motivating Red Cross volunteer stories that moved me to expand beyond the communications team and train to become a part of the Disaster Cycles Team, as well as a CPR instructor, in addition to being a visual storyteller and writer.

Like me, other community members, such as Suzy Lenarie, a senior at Denham Springs High School, were inspired to serve as a Red Cross volunteer. As a military kid, Suzy was influenced by her parents, who often volunteer with the Red Cross, and decided to follow in their footsteps and help others.

After Hurricane Laura, Suzy and her parents, as Red Cross volunteers, distributed food to those in need. She’s determined to be of service and help people any way she can, starting by creating a Red Cross program at her school.

We hoped that during the Open House, we’d gain more volunteers by showing them what we do as Red Crossers when we are not in crisis, simply by interacting and sharing stories of times when our Red Crossers have served and alleviated human suffering during crisis. The event accomplished exactly that, bringing together the community and Red Cross volunteers for the first time since the pandemic. Our volunteers do what they do from their heart; they convey their love for serving as a humanitarian in their expressions, their stories, and their work, but most of all, in the smiles of those they help.

The Red Cross is so grateful for its volunteers, and is always looking for strong, compassionate people to help carry out its mission of humanitarian purpose.

I strongly encourage you to consider becoming a Red Cross volunteer and join Team Louisiana.