“Most of our time responding to Hurricane Helene, we were housed in a staff shelter in Greensville SC along with 70-plus other Red Cross volunteers sleeping in a church gymnasium.  We celebrated our 39^th wedding anniversary on our air mattresses on the running track - our “penthouse” corner.”

Collectively, Jeff and Laura Mann have been involved with the Red Cross for 26 years – Jeff as a volunteer for the past nine, and Laura as a board member and volunteer for the past 17. They’re both a part of the Red Cross of Heartland, Stark, and Muskingum Lakes Disaster Action Team, assisting community members in times of need, and they’ve both traveled to national-level disaster operations as volunteers.

Helene was Jeff’s 16^th deployment and Laura’s first. “We had the opportunity to meet very appreciative clients and listen to their survival stories,” Laura said. “Witnessing the community’s overwhelming support for each other was humbling.”

This Valentine’s Day, we’re celebrating the heart of the Red Cross – Jeff, Laura and all the volunteers who carry out our lifesaving mission. They show up with love and compassion whenever disaster strikes - even if it means celebrating an anniversary in a shelter!