Each year, the American Red Cross assists more than 240,000 military and veteran families by leveraging a network of volunteers across the country and around the world.
One of those volunteers is Ann Piontkowski, who began volunteering with the Red Cross of Greater Pennsylvania Service to Armed Forces when she moved to Erie. In her more than seven years volunteering with the Red Cross, Piontkowski has helped countless members of the military, veterans, their families and caregivers cope with the challenges of service.
“I wanted to become involved in the community and saw the Red Cross offered many opportunities,” Piontkowski said. Her son, father and uncle have all served in the U.S. military.
In times of emergency, Piontkowski and other Red Cross volunteers help military families communicate with their loved ones and facilitate their return home through the Hero Care Network, which is available online, by phone, through a mobile app or in person, 24 hours a day.
“...Getting a [military] member back home from overseas for a birth is always special."
The Red Cross can help connect families after an illness or death of an immediate family member or a significant life event such as the birth of a child. Piontkowski has responded to all kinds of situations for military families, but said, “getting a member back home from overseas for a birth is always special."
In December 2022, Piontkowski helped a central Pennsylvania military family be together for the birth of their son. While David Tatum, a member of the Pennsylvania National Guard, was on active duty in Kuwait, his pregnant wife called the Red Cross Hero Care Center to send an emergency message to her husband that she was going to be induced. Piontkowski helped the military couple communicate and facilitated Tatum’s return home – a 26-hour long trip – just in time for his wife to give birth at Penn State Health Hampden Medical Center in Cumberland County.
“He arrived 20 minutes after she was admitted to the hospital,” Piontkowski said, “so he was there for his wife’s 30-hour labor and C-section.”
>> WATCH: David Tatum Travels 26+ Hours for Birth of His Child
Piontkowski is proud to help make these moments happen with her team of Red Crossers who support the Service to Armed Forces program.
“I would not want to be mentioned for what I do without having my team members mentioned as well,” Piontkowski said.
Want to support military and veteran families in your community? Sign up to become a Red Cross volunteer. Visit the link below, enter your zip code, and type “SAF” in the search bar.