If you visit the Red Cross House in Philadelphia, you’ll likely be greeted with the welcoming smile of Lestonia Glover. As a front desk volunteer, her warmth is so much more than a greeting; it's a vital element in the Red Cross House program for disaster victims.

The Red Cross House provides a safe, comfortable place where families can stay together after their lives have been disrupted by disasters. During their stay, residents are provided food, necessities, and a case worker to help them begin their journey to rebuild their lives after being displaced from their homes.

When she retired after more than 30 years as a schoolteacher, Lestonia looked to volunteering as a way to continue her passion for service to others. She was drawn to the Red Cross House where she now covers the front desk three days a week.

As a valuable member of the team, Lestonia takes on various responsibilities, but often her largest contribution is to listen and provide moral support to the residents as they work through challenges and decisions in the aftermath of fires, floods, or storms that impacted their lives in many unexpected ways.

Lestonia enjoys interacting with the residents through special activities and holiday events and is constantly surprised at how much the Red Cross House feels like an extended family. She particularly enjoys visits from past residents who stop in to share how well they are doing and express gratitude for the kindness and help they received while staying at the Red Cross House.

In December, the Red Cross honored Lestonia with the Red Cross House Exceptional Volunteer Award for the compassion, gracefulness, and generosity she extends to each resident and staff member. She’s made a difference in the lives of many people and continues to be a shining example of the many volunteers that the Red Cross depends on each year to provide humanitarian services to worldwide community members.

Check out other volunteer opportunities to see how you might also help others after natural disasters or consider donating to support Red Cross services like the Red Cross House.

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PHOTO: Red Cross Chief Operating Officer Clifton Salas (left) presents Lestonia Glover (right) with the Red Cross House Exceptional Volunteer Award on Dec. 6, 2023. Photo by Bill Thawley/American Red Cross

- Written by Terri Seydel