By Volunteer Carol Boulden

Volunteers are drawn to the American Red Cross because of their sense of community and eagerness to help people. While some volunteers put their past work experience to good use, there are volunteers like Glenn McConnell, who are looking to learn new skills and have new experiences.

Glenn retired six years ago and at the time, his education, skills and work experience centered around analytics and accounting. His daily grind was once filled with marketing strategies, project management and budgeting. Before retiring, he was the senior vice president and controller for a global analytics company.

Today, as a dedicated Red Cross volunteer, he now spends his days and evenings helping people affected by disasters.

One could say he was inspired by his three daughters who Glenn says, “softened his heart and taught him to be more charitable and caring in life.”

After the COVID pandemic, Glenn was looking to get out and do more in the community and there weren’t many volunteer opportunities available that interested him. He received an email from the American Red Cross New Jersey Region about potential volunteer opportunities. For Glenn, it was perfect timing and the starting point of a new chapter and new friendships.

In reflecting on his time with the Red Cross, he said, "The Red Cross has provided me with the opportunity to work alongside like-minded people with a common mission of alleviating human suffering. I have made lifelong friends and enjoy the great comradery among the team -- whether it’s during our responses to disaster incidents in Northern New Jersey, office hours every Thursday in Fairfield, or during our frequent get-togethers with the team. It is amazing how much we accomplish as a team.”

Glenn wears many hats and enjoys what he does. In just two years and two months, he is making a real difference. In 2023, he jumped right into action, deployed to Florida to help people affected by Hurricane Idalia. While there, he was responsible for disaster assessment and assisted in logistics and warehousing.

At present, Glenn is instrumental to the success of many Red Cross programs. One of his most beloved roles is that of Smoke Alarm Installation Lead with the Home Fire Campaign, making homes safer in at-risk neighborhoods. As a Disaster Workforce Coordinator, Glenn welcomes new volunteers and thoroughly trains them to ensure they feel comfortable. Moreover, as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) Supervisor in Northern New Jersey, he manages and supports DAT team members as they help people affected by local disasters such as home fires. Once sitting behind a desk, Glenn now sits behind the wheel of an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV), which he often drives to the scenes of disasters like collapsed buildings, forest fires, floods and in Glenn’s estimation, more than 200 home fires.

Riksum Kazi, DAT regional program lead, calls Glenn a wonderful DAT teammate! “He’s available for our clients when they need him. From responding to complex scenes in all kinds of weather, rain or shine, he’s always willing to step in and do what is necessary. We’ve been to all kinds of responses including large fires involving fatalities and other disasters. Glenn is compassionate and gets the work done. He exemplifies what it means to be a Red Crosser.”  

Nancy Franceschi, a community program manager who has worked several years with Glenn, celebrates the strong leadership qualities that Glenn displays. “His dedication, reliability, and compassion for the mission are exceptional,” she said. “Glenn tackles every task with a positive attitude, a heart full of service, and just the right amount of humor to lift everyone’s spirits. He’s not only an outstanding volunteer, but also a supportive teammate and friend.” 

Red Cross volunteers like Glenn sometimes lock away moments from a disaster scene to remember later. While responding to a recent forest fire, he recalled such a moment.

"While the firefighters were fighting a forest fire, some young kids in the area made them sandwiches,” said Glenn. “It was amazing to witness and experience the moment that they delivered them. I enjoyed speaking to those kids and the firefighters -- who I learned are big fans of burritos!”

Glenn also recalls many words of thanks. “I remember a few times where people have called me their angel and asked if they could hug me. Those acts warm my heart.”

Spreading his wings at the Red Cross, Glenn has also become active in another line of service.

As the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Logistics Lead, Glenn assists with moving and stocking supplies as a Food Pantry volunteer, where he often coordinates efforts to support military service members and their families on Joint Base McQuire-Dix-Lakehurst. Thanks to volunteers like Glenn and many others, the Red Cross is able to help homeless veterans, retired military, as well as active service members and their families.

At a recent event, the Red Cross recognized McDonnell, presenting him with the Swiss Army Award. Service to the Armed Forces and International Services Program Manager Lindsey Hicks explained how Glenn is a problem solver. "He has truly stepped up this year taking on more and more to fill gaps that needed support. Glenn always has a solution or tool ready to handle the issue given to him and he drives countless hours because he cares about the mission and knows how important it is to show up.”

Glenn is a versatile, energetic go-getter! He seems to do it all and is showing no sign of slowing down. Word is, he recently learned how to operate a fork-lift, so there must be more to come from this invaluable volunteer!