Relief: Our American Red Cross Volunteers

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Picture this: you’re sleeping comfortably in your bed, just as you do every night, when you hear your fire alarm go off and smell smoke. You manage to get your family out of the house to safety, but find yourself outside in the middle the night. Where would you go? Who would you call? What would you do if suddenly you lost everything you own?

That’s the very place Ines Gaona found herself on a cold December night. The Gaona’s rent house caught fire. Even though it didn’t burn to the ground, it sustained enough damage and the family couldn’t heat the home with the utilities turned off. They had nowhere to go and several small children to take care of. Ines and her seven family members were without help or hope until Red Cross volunteers came to give her comfort and assurance that everything was going to work out fine.

In the event of a single-family fire, the Amarillo Fire Department calls Red Cross volunteers to help victims with food and lodging. That night, the mother/daughter team Raenell Gore and Teri Stringer were on call. They found Ines and her family in shock, not knowing what to do. They got right to work listening and giving counsel so they could take care of their immediate needs. Every client has to fill out the Red Cross’ forms to receive aid, no matter the elements. And no matter where a person lives, there is only a certain amount of money allocated for hotel, food, etc. that a family can receive. For Ines, that meant two hotel rooms for her seven family members along with a debit card for food.

When I met with Raenell, Teri, and Martha Riddlesburger, the Director of Disaster Services for the local branch of the Red Cross, along with Ines, it was clear that they were caring, passionate people. They knew details of Ines’ life, asking about her family members or her health like someone would talk to a close friend, even though they’d only met her for the first time in December 2009. As Ines shared her story, there were tears all around and I was astounded at the depth of their compassion and empathy.

Raenell started her volunteer work with Red Cross back in March of 2008 at the front desk answering phones, but as any one who knows Raenell will tell you, she needed to be a part of the action. A self-sacrificing, giving person by nature, Raenell has always volunteered in some capacity. As we talked, it became clear that she’s always made it her mission to touch the lives of others. As daughter Teri says, “She doesn’t think about it. It’s just how she is.” So, Raenell asked for the opportunity to work single-family fires and also worked at local Red Cross shelters for approximately six months before being deployed to Hurricane Ike in 2008. It was a life-changing experience for her. During her time at the Red Cross, Raenell has been on 16 fire responses and 25 flood cases including the recent Bushland explosion and Happy hotel fire.

As for Raenell’s daughter Teri, she says that volunteering is a way of life for her because of the way her mom raised her. And she started volunteering at the Red Cross in August of 2008 because she didn’t want her mother going out alone on calls. Teri and her mom are on call every Tuesday and Thursday night from 5 p.m. to 9 a.m. When they go on a fire response together, Teri will pick up Raenell and they will go together to sight of the fire. To date, they’ve been to 10 fires together.

As I listened to Raenell and Teri, I became more and more curious. Because, to me, this type of volunteer work takes such courage and a level of compassion that few people possess. So I quizzed them. I wanted to know, what type of person feels compelled to reach out to others in their suffering? They laughingly said they were nosy. I say they are two of the most kindhearted people I’ve ever met. It’s rare to see people who are so compassionate and empathetic in spite of not really enduring hardship of their own. They say they’ve had a very blessed life and feel compelled to give to others out of their own gratitude.

Of her experience, Ines says Raenell and Teri encouraged her and made her feel safe. Before the volunteers arrived, the family’s only choice was to divide people between their two cars and take turns running the motor for heat until the sun came up and they could try to find help. Ines remembers feeling helpless until she heard her niece say, “Look! There’s the Red Cross. We are saved!” and she felt an overwhelming sense of relief. After three days, she and her family were able to return home, but the experience changed their lives and showed all of them what was really important.

The mission of the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its congressional charter and the fundamental principles of the international Red Cross movement, will provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

For more information regarding volunteer opportunites, contact the Red Cross at 376-6309.