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.

Why would he give up his weekends to volunteer as a DAT team member? "I feel fortunate for all that I have and volunteering is a way of giving back to humanity," Vinod explained.

In July 2005, Vinod Sivadas began looking for volunteer opportunities in the St. Louis community. Vinod's search led him to the DAT at the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter. After completing the orientation training course, the O'Fallon, IL resident joined a DAT team and began working an eight-hour shift each Saturday. A natural leader, he was soon asked to head up his own DAT team.

"The team leaders are responsible for upholding the American Red Cross mission of providing relief to victims of disasters," said Becky White, disaster specialist. "Leaders are selected based upon their experience, interest, and fellow volunteers' recommendations. Vinod portrays exceptional leadership qualities. His team enjoys riding with him. You can tell a lot about a leader from what the people around that leader say."

Over the years, Vinod and his team have often been among the first on the scene of various disasters. They take pride in their teamwork as they help meet people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. Their compassion and caring is evident as they provide shelter, food, and health and mental health services to address basic human needs and enable victims to resume their normal daily activities.

The Red Cross has over 200 DAT volunteers at the St. Louis Area Chapter Headquarters that provide shelter, food, clothing and counseling, as well as direct financial assistance at no cost to disaster victims. Each year, over 1,200 St. Louis area families benefit from Red Cross disaster response services. Those families are grateful volunteers like Vinod and others are willing to give their time to be ready to respond.

"I like the immediate impact the Red Cross has on the local community," said Vinod. "Instead of the community coming to you, you go to them. The direct help I am able to give to people as a DAT volunteer appeals to me."