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.”

 

Before volunteering at the Red Cross, Kelly, like many, was unaware there was a Congressional Charter requiring the American Red Cross to conduct emergency communication services for armed forces personnel. Now, this corporate attorney spends many of her weekends providing an essential communications link between parents, spouses, and sibilings here at home and their loved ones serving around the world. Each year, more than 6,000 military personnel and families are assisted through Armed Forces Emergency Services (AFES).

 

Kelly is humbled by the tremendous responsibility given to the Red Cross by Congress to validate, mandate, and compose communications to the military and their families. “What strikes you is the gravity of the calls,” Kelly added. “Most often the calls involve someone who is dying or injured or has already passed away. They are very serious matters and you understand the importance of reaching the military members with these critical messages.”

 

Kelly is one of more than 1,400 volunteers who help the Red Cross to prevent, prepare for, and respond to disasters and emergencies by assisting with disaster action teams, teaching life-saving classes, helping out at blood drives, and many other roles. Through all our programs, the Red Cross and our volunteers touch the community over 446,000 times each year.

 

 

For more information on the Red Cross and how you can get involved, call 314.516.2800 or click here.