Red Cross Volunteer Inspires Many

Dedicated volunteer Zan Peavy from Tallahassee, FL. (Photo courtesy of www.cacarc.org ) 

 

By Tracey Kiest, Public Affairs Volunteer, American Red Cross
 

AMERICUS, Ga-  March 8, 2007 “People have helped me my entire life.  I’m tired of that.  I want to help people,” insists Zan Peavy.  She suffered a spinal cord injury during birth and is confined to a wheelchair, but that’s not stopping her from helping people impacted by the Georgia tornadoes.  The twenty-five year old gets great satisfaction by volunteering for the American Red Cross. The Tallahassee native came to Georgia as a family services volunteer.  She sits down with Red Cross clients and listens to their stories.  After that, she determines their immediate emergency needs.  She then provides emergency assistance such as clothing, food and other necessities so they can begin their road to recovery.  Data entry is also a part of her job, which has become her passion.  “I’ve fallen in love with something I can do well and get paid with gratitude,” Peavy said. 

She has worked as a 9-1-1 dispatcher and believes her emergency response background compliments the Red Cross disaster response.  “I love working with people no matter the situation,” Peavy commented. Disasters can be stressful, but Peavy keeps a level head and calm disposition.  She says it’s fulfilling to see a client whose life has been turned upside down begin to see things will get better.  The Red Cross helps make that happen.

This tornado response is Peavy’s first assignment to a widespread disaster. “I was really excited when I got the call,” Peavy shared.  All the way to Georgia her roommate, a veteran Red Cross volunteer, gave her pointers. It’s only been a few days and Peavy already knows responding to help people affected by disasters are a part of her future.  In fact she plans to respond whenever it’s possible.  She even has her sights set on working for the American Red Cross national headquarters one day.

 

On top of helping people when they need it most, the Red Cross has meant personal growth for Peavy.  She admits she’s come out of her shell and reaches out to more people since becoming a volunteer in August of 2005.

Like thousands of other people, Peavy felt compelled to help people after Hurricane Katrina.  A couple of days after the storm hit, she found herself amidst the Red Cross mission, providing disaster relief.  In Tallahassee Peavy’s role was helping evacuees with disabilities.  She remembers seeing people lined up outside of the service center for two to three weeks.  Even when they sent her home to get some rest, she felt like she needed to be there helping.Peavy doesn’t consider her inability to walk a disability.  Nothing is going to stop this determined woman from being a big part of an organization that’s been helping people for more than a century.  She lives the spirit of the Red Cross. If anything’s stopping you from volunteering, let Zan Peavy be your inspiration.

One Good Turn Deserves Another

Yinyue Yin and Xianolei Zheng heard about the Red Cross on television and decided to volunteer with the relief effort because of the warm way they were treated when they arrived from Shanghai, China a year and a half ago.

(Photo by Gene Dailey, American Red Cross)

Partnership

For many years, the American Red Cross and the Southern Baptists have partnered in disasters — they cook the meals, and we get them out the door. The Southern Baptists set up their kitchen in the storage garage belonging to the First Baptist Church in Americus.

(Photo by Gene Dailey, American Red Cross)

Loading the meals

Hot food is prepared by the Southern Baptists and packed in insulated containers called “cambros”.  These are then loaded onto Red Cross vehicles specially equipped for food distribution in the affected communities.

(Photo by Gene Dailey, American Red Cross)

Cleanup Aid

(Photo by Gene Dailey, American Red Cross)

A Helping Hand

Ruby Hodges of Americus, Georgia gladly accecpts a rake from Mike, a local Red Cross volunteer.  (Photo by Gene Dailey)

Sunday Service

Len Hicks, the Chapter Chair of the Middle Flint Chapter of the American Red Cross gives and update to the community at Sunday’s services at the First Baptist Church in Americus, Georgia. (Photo by Gene Dailey, American Red Cross)

Rebuilding Lives

Scott Lloyd, a local Red Cross volunteer gazes at a picture found in the rubble of a section of town completely destroyed by the category F3 tornado that swept through Americus, Georgia.

(Photo by Gene Dailey, American Red Cross)

Photos from Americus

Here are several pictures taken by Red Cross volunteer Gene Dailey. Please refer to our photo use policy.

Red Cross Also Hit Hard

Gloria Brown, her husband and two children rode out the tornado in the closet of their daughter’s bedroom (the only room standing in the back of the image). Miraculously no one was even injured as their home was literally torn to pieces. A Red Cross Disaster supply trailer that was parked nearby was destroyed, spewing the contents and pieces of the trailer across the Brown’s property.

(Photo by Gene Dailey, American Red Cross)