By Judy Blair, Red Cross volunteer

“We are not on earth to see how important we can become, but to see how much of a difference we can make in the lives of others.” – G. Hinckley

Service has always been part of my life. I come from a family of men and women who dedicated themselves to helping others—through military service, firefighting and law enforcement. That tradition shaped my own path.

For 32 years, I worked as a civil servant. When I retired, I searched for a way to continue serving and found my home with the American Red Cross. My first deployment was to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. For 21 days, I helped distribute emergency supplies to people who had lost everything. We offered food, water, cleanup kits—and sometimes the most valuable gift of all: a smile, a hug and a listening ear. Often, simply hearing someone’s story is the greatest comfort we can give.

Since then, I’ve continued deploying to disasters for more than 20 years. I love this work. It allows me to give back, ease suffering and offer hope as people rebuild their lives and move toward a new normal.

Thank you to the thousands of Red Cross volunteers and employees for what you do—and for allowing me to stand beside you. It is truly an honor and privilege to help make a difference in others’ lives.

Learn more about volunteering and how you can make a difference. Visit redcross.org/volunteer today.