By Charles Hunter
American Red Cross

After serving two weeks at a Red Cross shelter for those displaced by the California wildfires, Mary Braning responded a week later to the call to help Louisiana residents threated by Hurricane Ida.

Her first shelter assignment was in Thibeaux, southwest of New Orleans. But when the generator failed, 90 people were bussed to a shelter in nearby Napoleonville, which supported up to 150 people.

“I was astounded by the wide spread scope of devastation in the area,” Mary said.

Mary, who lives in Bonne Terre, Missouri, said she enjoys sitting down and listening to shelter residents, many of whom have been traumatized by the disaster.

“They just want to tell their stories.  One client just wanted socks.  When I gave him new socks, he cried and said, ‘No one has ever been so nice.  You are a volunteer with Red Cross.  I just didn’t know you would do this for me’,” she recalled.

Some just need a little extra help.  One shelter resident was in a wheelchair and needed help getting to the restroom.  Mary worked the night shift and was attentive to her needs and provided that support.

The work of a Red Cross shelter volunteer can include 12-hour days, supporting a wide range of emotional needs, cleaning and assisting with distributing food, water and clothes.  Mary said the shelter worker’s role requires flexibility and a willingness to “do whatever needs to be done.”

After widespread and severe damage caused by Ida, many residents are left without power and often had major storm damage to their homes.

Residents can sometimes manage to stay in their homes for a few days until water and food runs out.  At that point, many go to a Red Cross shelter where assistance is waiting for them.  

“The people of Louisiana are a gracious people, they want you to know that all of what Red Cross does for them makes them beyond happy for the care they’ve received,” Mary said.

After completing her professional career working with at-risk students and foster youth, she knew she had much more to give.  She comes from a family of Red Cross volunteers.

“My mother and one of my sisters volunteered with Red Cross for many years.  I joined Red Cross at the same time as my older sister,” she said.

For the first three years she assisted with blood drives and other activities around Bonne Terre.  She continues those activities as part of the Greater St. Louis Chapter and also deploys to disasters throughout the nation.

“We live in trying times and the Red Cross is responding to hurricanes, wildfires, immigrant assistance, and home fires,” she said. “There are many ways to volunteer with Red Cross including virtual assignments that support logistics, materials management and spiritual care.”