By Shoba Brown
American Red Cross

It was 2016 and Jackie Byest was at home in Jonesboro, Arkansas, recovering from a battle with cancer when her son reached out to her.

“Mom, get out of this house and go to the Red Cross and volunteer. We need you at the main office. We need somebody to answer the phones and run the front desk. You have the skills, come on!” Dean Hannah told his mother.

So, when your son, who was then the disaster program manager for the North East Arkansas Chapter in Jonesboro, says he needs your help, what do you do? You start your volunteer career, and pull your husband Tommy along.

A retired educator, Jackie taught kindergarten and preschool, then spent her last eight years working with Head Start to train teachers.

Tommy Byest describes himself as a man who has never met a stranger. He ran his own business, managed a team of people and installed flooring. He was a “floor man” in Jackie’s words.

Jackie’s first assignment at the Red Cross chapter office was managing the front desk and answering phones. She soon moved on to be a volunteer partner to the chapter executive director and gained experience in fundraising.

“With Red Cross, whatever your hands find to do, you know, they keep you busy doing it,” she said. “If they see you are talented in an area, they are going to really push you.”

Soon, Jackie found her heart in disaster work. Tommy, also persuaded by his son to volunteer, started by helping to move and work with Red Cross supply trailers. Today he is the volunteer in charge of maintaining the chapter fleet and is also an experienced Emergency Response Vehicle driver.

Although neither Jackie nor Tommy have deployed nationally, they have served in disasters locally and regionally doing everything asked of them, including sheltering and feeding.

They are also Disaster Action Team members. When an EF-3 tornado touched down in Jonesboro in March of 2020, Jackie and Tommy, masked and working within the Covid-19 guidelines, stepped up to help their community.

They drove the ERV into neighborhoods providing water, distributing tarps and other emergency relief supplies to those in need. It is easy to see and hear the love and enthusiasm this couple has for the volunteering work they do.

An ordained minister, Jackie is never more in her element than when she is serving the needs of others. And Tommy, energetic and outgoing, is happy to support and work alongside his wife within the19 counties covered by their chapter.

When she speaks of volunteering, Jackie’s words paint a picture of selfless faith and pure love of humanity.

“They can’t pay you enough to do it. You’ve got to have a real love for it. A real love and caring for people. If you just have a mind to help other people, the Red Cross is a good fit for you,” Jackie said.

“Just being out helping people… if nothing but passing out bottles of water, or helping work a blood drive. Just be there for people…be a hug for somebody. Be an arm for someone to lean on.”

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