Renee Washington has been volunteering with the St. Louis Area Chapter since 2004 and she has already been deployed on five national Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) assignments. Her most recent deployment came in the hours following Hurricane Katrina. Renee was sent to Miami, FL, where she met one-on-one with hurricane victims in their homes, listened to each person’s needs and then provided funds for food, shelter, clothing and other immediate necessities. To many people, Renee was a hero. She compassionately listened to each person in their time of need and helped them begin their recovery process.

“I was a small part of a larger movement that helped those in need mentally, physically and economically. It was a very fulfilling experience for me and I feel rewarded for having helped others,” she says.

“Each day of my assignment, I worked with three or four other Red Cross volunteers. Together, we would drive into the neighborhoods that were hard hit by the storm, go into homes and help people with the resources the Red Cross provides. The people were always receptive to our help and they seemed relieved to see us. I know we can’t help with all their needs but meeting their immediate needs can make a world of difference,” she says. Renee has a warm and soft-spoken presence that emits compassion and kindness. It’s no wonder she has a knack for helping others.

When asked why she became a Red Cross DSHR volunteer, she says, “I always wanted to volunteer for the Red Cross. When I retired from 30 years of teaching in the Ferguson/Florissant school district, I finally had the time.”

For more information on DSHR or other Disaster Services volunteer opportunities, call 314.516.2876 or click here.

To read more stories about Red Cross volunteers and donors, click here.