Youth Volunteer Danielle Werle does everything from teaching children First Aid to playing Bingo with Veteran Hospital patients
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 YouthCorps 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.
In addition to earning her certification in First Aid and CPR, Danielle has been teaching First Aid classes to children at an elementary school. The Red Cross has a goal of having at least one person in every household certified in First Aid and CPR. "i'm so glad I got the training needed to save a life so I can pass this knowledge on to others," Danielle added.
With her strong leadership skills, Danielle contributed to the efforts to organize a fundraiser for the Measles Initiative by her YouthCorps group. The spread of measles has reached epidemic levels in Africa and Asia. Nearly 600 children under age five die each day from measles. According to Danielle, "For every dollar we raised, we were able to help the Red Cross give a measles vaccine to a child in Africa. The fundraiser was a huge success. It made me feel good to know I helped improve the quality of life for people living on the other side of the world."
Danielle also serves with the Disaster Action Team (DAT) in Jefferson County and spends some of her time visiting patients and playing Bingo with them at the Jefferson Barracks Veterans Hospital.
As a high school junior, Danielle is currently the vice president of the Youth Advisory Board and is a committee co-chairperson for the National Youth Institute, scheduled to be held at the Doubletree Hotel in Chesterfield at the end of May ,2008. Danielle also serves as a St. Louis Area Chapter governing Board member because of her demonstrated commitment to the Red Cross mission.