My Deployment Experience: Mark Kumro

Mark Kumro, a Red Cross volunteer for three years, was one of the volunteers who made the trip to the Carolinas to help with Hurricane Florence relief.  Mark became a volunteer after retirement and says that anyone who is considering volunteering should consider the Red Cross because of the variety and flexibility of ways you can help.

In the Carolinas, Mark worked in an Emergency Response Vehicle and a regional kitchen, helping deliver food to shelters.  This is Mark’s third deployment. To help provide support to residents of the affected communities, Mark and the other Red Cross volunteers talked positively and asked how they were doing. He says the people in the community were very appreciative of the work being done to help them. One story that stuck out to Mark was a disabled man who always seemed to be in a good mood even after the disaster, and enjoyed visiting with Mark and the other Red Cross volunteers. Mark says that he always feels good to give back and help.

Joseph Levy, Communications Intern

My Deployment Experience: Diane Sargent

Diane Sargent, a Red Cross volunteer for the past 17 years, was one of the WCNY Red Cross Volunteers who traveled to North Carolina to help with the Hurricane Florence relief.  Diane has been a Red Cross volunteer since 2001 and became a volunteer after being inspired by seeing the Red Cross working in New York following 9/11. 

Diane was assigned to work in disaster assessment, going into areas to determine the severity of the damage. Diane has recorded about 50 previous deployments.  She views the work as very rewarding and would tell people considering volunteering to, “Jump in, you’ll love it and want to do it again.” While in North Carolina, Diane worked long hours and spoke to many people but one person that stood out to her was an elderly woman whose house had been flooded. The woman had some health issues and lived alone, so Diane spent a lot of time listening to her story and providing support.

 Diane says that each assignment is a little different but one reoccurring observation is seeing regular people working together to alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies. She values her work with the Red Cross and says it is very rewarding.

Joseph Levy, Communications Intern