While most people spend their Saturdays running errands, doing chores around the house, or just relaxing, Vinod Sivadas can be found on call in the Disaster Action Team (DAT) staging area at the St. Louis Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, ready to respond if a fire, storm, flood or other disaster should hit his community. He's been doing this every weekend since 2005.

From her years of service, Karen Wamble understands the importance of preparedness. Her days are filled with helping families recover from home fires, teaching Pet First Aid, and assisting with day-to-day operations at the St. Charles County Service Center. 

One of any parent’s worst fears is that a fire, tornado or other unexpected disaster might happen when her children are home alone. That’s why the Red Cross has launched its Ready School program and is encouraging parents like Shelagh Davis and her son, Joe, to share the emergency preparation lessons they learn with the rest of their family and friends.

When a disaster strikes in the United States, Dorothy Staples is among the first to respond when the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter needs volunteers. Since Dorothy became a Chapter volunteer in 1998, she has responded to 45 national disasters working mainly as a client services worker.

In 2005, Walt and Denise Wallheimer witnessed hundreds of thousands of Red Cross supporters volunteer their time and money after Hurricane Katrina ripped across the Gulf Coast. The outpouring of support inspired the husband and wife duo to register as Red Cross volunteers. Over the next few months they completed several disaster training courses in preparation for the next national emergency.

During a conversation with his mother in 2005, Robert Vinluan decided to become a Red Cross volunteer after he retired from the Chrysler truck plant in Fenton. He was discussing his plans to volunteer and it was during that conversation Robert found out about his family’s connection to the Red Cross going back many years.

Susanne Shepherd has been involved with the Red Cross for over 50 years. In 1950, while attending John Burroughs High School, Susanne first got the itch to volunteer. "My mother was a Red Cross volunteer and she signed me up to serve Thanksgiving meals downtown for service men during the Korean War," Susanne recalled. "Ever since I can remember I liked to help people."

Marti Lanese was first exposed to Red Cross programs at the age of six when she enrolled in swimming lessons. By high school, she was a Senior Red Cross Lifesaver and later, a water safety instructor. Over the years, Marti's fondness for the Red Cross has grown. In January 2002, following the tragic events of September 11th, Marti was inspired to join the St. Louis Area Chapter's Clara Barton Society.

After dedicating 37 years to the Spanish Lake Fire Department, 27 years spent as chief, Larry Boyer knows first-hand the important role the Red Cross plays on the scene of a disaster. "I got involved because of how much the Red Cross helped me and what they would do for the affected families," said Larry. A volunteer for two and a half years, Larry started his work within the arena he was most familiar with, the Disaster Action Team (DAT).

Danielle became a YouthCorps volunteer for the St. Louis Area Chapter in 2006. As a Fox High School student, she wanted to get involved in a service organization and do things to help make her community a better place to live. Since one didn't exist at her school, Danielle played a key role in founding a YouthCorp group at Fox High School and involved many of her friends."The great thing about volunteering with the Red Cross is that you can do anything you want to do and the Red Cross will help you fulfill your goal," said Danielle.

Why has Mary Jo Blackwood devoted much of the past 35 years to volunteering with the American Red Cross? It’s really quite simple. “I’ve been out there and seen what we do and we are doing great things,” she explained. Mary Jo first began volunteering with the American Red Cross in Dayton, Ohio. After four years with the organization, she decided to take a CPR and First Aid Course. “As I went through the class, I remember thinking this would be fun to teach, and I’ve always loved teaching,” she said. So, Mary Jo continued taking classes to become a certified health and safety instructor for the Red Cross.

As the sister of a marine who has served three tours of duty in Iraq, Kelly Battley understands how important her Red Cross volunteer work is to the individuals and families she serves through the Service to Armed Forces (SAF) program. “When my brother was deployed, we would not hear from him for weeks,” she said “If something serious were to happen, we had an avenue to reach him through the Red Cross. I know from personnel experience that when there is an emergency, you’re in an information vacuum. The personal connection and follow-up of this service is incredibly important.”

In 1993, as the St. Louis region was hit with devastating floods, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter made a television appeal, seeking volunteers to help those affected by the disaster. Janie immediately picked up the phone to volunteer her time and personally help the thousands of her neighbors affected by the flood.

Karen Leonard became a Red Cross volunteer in 2001, but her connection to the Red Cross mission goes back many years. Karen, a registered nurse, frequently found herself treating patients for preventable injuries. “In the back of my mind, I always thought that had these people been trained in First Aid or disaster preparedness, they wouldn’t be sitting in front of me needing medical treatment,” she explained. “I knew there were organizations in our community that taught preparedness skills and I thought I could be of service.”

At only 18 years old, Ariana Mooradian  is more than just a YouthCorps member, she is an essential piece of the Red Cross puzzle. Three years ago, as a high school sophomore, Ariana began searching for volunteer opportunities.  She wanted to find an organization she could commit to that also offered various types of volunteer activities.  The American Red Cross YouthCorps offered just that.

Lorraine Siebert is dedicating her golden years to helping other area seniors lead their own independent lives. She has been an American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter volunteer for five years and works within the Chapter’s health and safety department with Lifeline – a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS). Subscribers wear Lifeline monitors as a wristband or a pendant. If the client needs help, they simply push the button on the monitor. A Lifeline operator is immediately notified and starts calling numbers on a predetermined list. If no one is available, the operator dispatches emergency personnel.

RaSheda Hodges has been a volunteer HIV/AIDS education instructor for the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter since 2001. She is passionate about HIV/AIDS outreach and education in the St. Louis community. As a Case Manager for the Saint Louis University New Hope Clinic, Rasheda brings a wealth of professional experience to her role as a volunteer instructor for the Red Cross.