When Marilyn Banks retired from the United States Army, she knew she wasn’t done serving. Her can’t-stop attitude not only set her on the path to becoming an American Red Cross volunteer – it continues to define her service with the organization.

“Once I retired, I felt helpless and wanted to continue helping those in need,” said Marilyn, of Gretna, La. “So, I dove in the wonderful world of the American Red Cross, and I haven’t stopped.”

Marilyn, who signed up as a volunteer a year ago, is among a tireless crew on the Disaster Action Team that enables Louisiana Red Cross to respond to the day-to-day disasters that don’t always make the evening news but are nonetheless life-changing for those affected.

Last year, Louisiana Red Cross responded to an average of four disasters a day – the vast majority being home fires, which can leave families without any possessions or shelter. A small but dedicated team of Red Cross volunteers carries out the work on a daily basis.

Responders like Marilyn show up to the scene at all hours of the day or night, representing the first contact for families who find themselves on the long road to recovery. They provide hope and comfort – a bottle of water, a snack, a blanket on a cold night and assurances they are not going through this alone. Responders talk at length with survivors to identify the most-pressing immediate needs and how the Red Cross can help, whether that’s finding a place to stay for the next night or two or replacing clothes for children who need to report to school the next day. Amid the swirling panic after a disaster, responders like Marilyn offer a sense of calm and reliability.

“I’ve been in two hurricanes, and I have had a house fire, so I really know the pain of losing everything right before my eyes,” Marilyn said. “I really felt helpless and did not know what I was going to do, or what was next.

“I know the pain. I know what it feels like to be without, not knowing where to turn to next — what next is always the question. … I get to talk, hug, and give them the hope, so desperately wanted by them.”

Laraunda Hartford, the Red Cross disaster program manager for Southeast Louisiana, said Marilyn is “dependable” and “reliable.”

“She’s very dedicated,” Laraunda said. “Even when she’s near the point of exhaustion, she still will push herself a little further. … Every case is special and unique to her, and she treats every individual like her top priority.”

Marilyn embraces the ideal that the Red Cross empowers volunteers to help their neighbors. Once, after working all day responding to an apartment fire in Southeast Louisiana, Marilyn returned home exhausted. Her feet hurt. She called a relative and said she was done for the day – she was too tired to respond to a home fire, even if another happened right next door.

Sure enough, her phone rang minutes later. It was an apartment complex right next door to Marilyn’s home. Of course, she went out to help her neighbors.

“By then I had got my second wind,” Marilyn said. “I love volunteering. Helping those in need and seeing a person smile at the end of the day is the greatest feeling of all.”

Louisiana Red Cross is actively recruiting and training volunteers to serve on the Disaster Action Team. Click here to sign up today.