Susan Davis-Kienscherf first learned about the American Red Cross as a child in Landstuhl, Germany where her father was stationed in the Army and her mother worked at the Red Cross Hospital.
Those early memories started a lifelong relationship with the Red Cross that continues today with Susan’s role volunteering on the Disaster Action Team (DAT), responding to emergencies like flooding and fires.
“There’s a need that I’m filling. Someone, or a family, is having what is likely the worst day of their lives and we’re there. We’re showing up. We’re compassionate. We’re empathetic, and we let them know that they’re not alone,” she said.
Before Red Cross volunteers arrive at a disaster, teams coordinate about what may be needed once they arrive. Susan is a Disaster Action Team Supervisor.
“We as a team will rally before we actually get to the site,” she said. But there are no guarantees about what they’ll find once they get there. “We often don’t know what we are walking into,” because disaster scenes are fluid and rapidly evolve.
Susan explained that once the team arrives, she talks to first responders like police and firefighters before speaking to clients to see if anything has changed since the Red Cross team was dispatched.
That coordination is one of her favorite parts of the job. “That’s a pretty neat feeling.” When the time comes to meet the people affected by disasters like a home fire, she said, “We let the client tell us their story.”
The Red Cross Disaster Action Team provides clients with immediate resources to help them recover. That may include help with shelter, emotional and medical support and spiritual care. The team may also do a damage assessment to see if the client qualifies for financial assistance.
After a home fire in her own neighborhood killed an elderly woman, Susan participated in her first Red Cross Sound the Alarm campaign, going door to door installing smoke alarms for free.
“I have family members who knew the woman who passed away and it made it even more personal.”
Susan has many volunteer roles within the Red Cross including Mass Care, Sheltering and Feeding. She has also frequently donated blood and platelets.
“My philosophy has always been put me where you need me. Where’s the greatest need for help?”
One of her most unique jobs is operating a Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) which is roughly 24 feet long and is driven to disasters to provide equipment and food supplies. The back can be opened up to feed people directly from the vehicle.
“It’s just a big responsibility and I take it really seriously and I’m really happy when I do a good job.”
It’s not surprising that Susan would take on the challenge. After reading a book about climbing the world’s highest mountains, Susan thought, “I can do that. That sounds amazing.”
Despite her fear of heights, Susan attempted to summit Kilimanjaro. She didn’t make it to the top on her first try but she savored the experience. “It was a great adventure. I stayed in Africa. I went on a small safari. I went to Zanzibar. It was really cool.” In another climbing excursion, she made it a couple of stops from base camp on Mount Everest.
Susan said her experience volunteering for the Red Cross has been “so rewarding” and she encourages others to volunteer. “Try it, you might like it. You might find a calling.”
Sign up to volunteer at redcross.org/volunteer today or make a financial donation at redcross.org/donate.
------------
PHOTO: Susan Davis-Kienscherf poses with Fred Cross during a recognition event for deployed volunteers in February. Photo by Katerina Luchinina / American Red Cross
- Written by Jenny Farley
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Your time and talent can make a real difference in people’s lives. Discover the role that's right for you and join us today!