Story told by Cheary Shelim, Red Cross Volunteer

Every year, the American Red Cross responds to an average of 65,000 disasters; most of which are local disasters like home fires. As trained DAT volunteers, Ashley and Diane provide relief to families by giving blankets, comfort kits with personal hygiene items, and sometimes, stuffed animals to children. They are also trained to help in Red Cross shelters, where people can have a safe place to stay, a hot meal, and access to additional support.

As blood donor ambassadors, they ensure that donors have a positive experience during blood drives. This is crucial because the Red Cross provides nearly 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply. The blood is used for accident and burn victims, surgery patients, organ transplant patients, and those receiving treatment for cancer and sickle cell disease. In 2023, the South Carolina region collected nearly 70,000 units of lifesaving blood.

Ashley credits her mother, Diane, for instilling a sense of volunteerism in her at a young age. “She volunteers more than I do. My mom did Meals on Wheels when I was a kid. She volunteered at the animal shelter, cleaning out cages and walking dogs. There’s probably more that she did,” Ashley muses.

Diane, on the other hand, says it was her daughter who recruited her to join the Red Cross. She’s proud that Ashley has helped so many people, and she loves the time she spends with her daughter when they volunteer on the same call. “Sometimes, [Ashley] will respond to something that is out of town. It takes a while to get there. So she’ll just swing by and pick me up. We go together and it works out real well. It gives us an excuse to go somewhere together and hang out for a while.”

Ashley shares about how her mother is excited to be a part of the Red Cross. “She’s really good about putting her Red Cross volunteer shirt when we go out for a call. She has her little backpack with all her stuff in it. She’s more organized than I am.”

“I’m just very happy,” Diane agrees, sharing how she appreciates working with the people at Red Cross. “You don’t get a monetary reward or anything for doing it. And it takes time out of your day. But everybody that I have dealt with has just been super personalities –  very empathetic. We just want to make the clients as comfortable as we can make them feel, given the circumstances.”

Like Ashley and Diane, you can serve the community with your family too. Learn more about how you can help here: redcross.org/volunteer