Making an Impact: How One Mental Health Volunteer is Making a Difference During the Pandemic

Throughout Red Cross Month we are spotlighting those volunteers within the Western New York region who help to make a difference in our community and truly define the humanitarian spirit that shapes the mission of the American Red Cross.

As we mark one year of the COVID-19 pandemic, Allison Keller and her extraordinary work as a Disaster Mental Health volunteer showcase the importance of mental health services and human connection and her efforts are one of many reasons why the Red Cross has been able to fulfill its mission in the face of a global pandemic.

For Keller, her volunteer journey began in 2014 when she was looking for opportunities to give back to her new community following a move from Rochester. Originally starting out in Disaster Relief, Keller continued to look for ways to utilize her skills as a school psychologist and eventually made the transition to Mental Health Services.

Shortly after COVID-19 hit last year, her first assignment in Disaster Mental Health was with a start-up pilot group, where she offered phone calls of support and resources to families who were impacted by COVID-19. 

At that time, Keller like many others, didn’t know what to expect.

“We respond to disasters all the time, but in this case it was a worldwide disaster,” she recalled. “People would need face masks just to go outside their homes, but nobody had face masks. So what were they supposed to do? It was hard that they couldn’t go anywhere without the masks.”

These days, Keller says it can be a challenge to create connections with those around us while social distancing for our own safety. For Keller and her fellow volunteers, though, those efforts have and continue to make a difference. Since the onset of the pandemic, licensed mental health and spiritual care volunteers like Keller have provided emotional support, psychological first aid and referrals to community resources. In total, they have made more than 53,000 mental health and spiritual care contacts to help people during disasters. Additionally, trained volunteers continue to provide free crisis counseling through the Virtual Family Assistance Center, which offers support to grieving families during COVID-19.

Keller is quick to remind those she encounters that their emotional and mental wellbeing is equally as important as our physical health. In the COVID era, staying safe and dealing with our new normal can be stressful. It’s Red Cross volunteers like Allison Keller who can be a shoulder to lean on during these challenging times. 

If you were inspired by Allison’s story and would like to learn about ways you can make a difference and volunteer in your community visit RedCross.org. 

Story by: Maggie Wurth, American Red Cross 

Called to Action: Celebrating the Volunteerism and Retirement of Mr. Herbert Wolfe

Hurricane Katrina marked the largest sheltering operation in Red Cross history. In the midst of the disaster, the Red Cross opened nearly 1,400 evacuation shelters in 27 states. Within five days of Katrina making landfall in the U.S., the Red Cross served nearly one million meals in a single day. 

Hundreds of miles away from his home in Rochester, Herbert Wolfe watched the devastation and unwavering dedication of Red Cross volunteers in times of disaster. It was then that he embarked on a nearly 15-year journey as a Red Cross volunteer.

Over the years his roles have varied, but his support of the mission and the people he was called to assist remained unchanged. Mr. Wolfe started out as a general volunteer, dabbled in Shelter Management and Disaster Assessment until his most recent role as Leader for the Disaster Assessment Team (DA).

Reflecting on his service, Herb recounted many memorable moments but emphasized his love for deployments in Disaster Assessment.

“I got the most satisfaction working in DA. Being able to be on the ground collecting data and working with other Service delivery areas was always a challenge and rewarding,” Wolfe said. Referring to it as an “intelligence arm for the Red Cross,” this team gets deployed to a disaster to assess how big and how wide a disaster is, by going house to house and recording the damage on an app which the entire DA Team has access to in real time.  

Upon asking Mr. Wolfe his proudest achievement, he didn’t hesitate.

“When we were able to set up a DA Core Team. The initial goal of this team was to train all our DA staff before they were deployed and to look at ways to improve the technology for DA. We had several very successful weekend training sessions that helped anyone from our area deploying," Herb said. "I cannot claim the credit for all this, as it would not have happened without the guidance and leadership of Sarah Perkins.”  

This is Herb’s Red Cross Story. This Red Cross Month, we are proud to celebrate him and all of our volunteers who provide critical services to our community in times of need. Whether its joining our Disaster Action Team (DAT), volunteering at a local blood drive or taking on a virtual volunteer position in the age of COVID, volunteers like Herb make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce.

And as he embarks on a new journey, which includes volunteering at his local church food bank and plenty of “Grandpa Camp” this summer, he happily offered up some advice to new volunteers.

“There is always someone needing a helping hand. Have patience and be a little proactive when starting. Once you are trained in a specialty, you will then start to enjoy the feeling of being part of a great organization.”

A great organization thanks to volunteers like you, Mr. Wolfe.

On behalf of everyone at the American Red Cross, we wish you a long and healthy retirement.  Enjoy your next adventure!

Story by Holly Gassler, American Red Cross

Some True "March Madness"

If you're like me, you're a little bleary-eyed today after watching far too many hours of college basketball over the weekend. But while we were following our brackets and celebrating Cinderella's upsets (Florida Gulf Coast?!?), there was also a reminder of the fact that disaster doesn't take a holiday, not even for those taking part in the NCAA Tournament.

Syracuse University basketball star's home was destroyed
by fire in Hamilton, MA. (Courtesy WCVB.COM)

Michael Carter-Williams spent Saturday night in California, leading his Syracuse Orange to the Sweet 16 with a victory over Cal. But he wasn't celebrating after the game. That's when the sophomore's mother, who was at the arena, told him the family home in Hamilton, MA was destroyed by fire during the game. Thankfully, Carter-Williams' family was able to get out of the house safely, and he and his SU teammates can turn their focus to playing top-ranked Indiana on Thursday night while his family begins the rebuilding process.

House fires can happen at any time, even while millions are watching you on TV as you play one of the biggest games of your life. Take a little break from March Madness to make sure you and your loved ones are prepared, just in case. Remember, March isn't all about hoops--it's Red Cross Month as well!!

Spring It On!

I think by this point in the year, pretty much all of us in Western New York are ready for spring. So what better way to get in the mood than to Spring It On!!

#SpringItOn (notice the Twitter-ready hashtag!!) is the United Way's Day of Giving in Erie and Niagara Counties. Over 180 area non-profit organizations are taking part in today's event, which is aimed at making everyone in WNY more aware of what these amazing organizations do for our community, and to encourage everyone to show their support.

All you have to do is visit fundraise.springiton.org/redcrossbuffaloniagara to make a donation. Then you can #SpringItOn--there's links to share our page and your support with your friends and family through Twitter and Facebook. And while you're there, take a little time to learn about the event and some of the other organizations taking part.

For us, it's quite the coincidence that the United Way chose March 1, which also happens to be the kickoff of Red Cross Month, complete with a proclamation from President Obama this morning, something every President has done for the past 70 years.

Meanwhile, here in WNY, we were provided with another reminder of why your support is so important to us, as our team was called to assist eight people following a fire on Patsy Lane in Depew this morning. This comes on the heels of a month in which we assisted 110 people in Erie in Niagara County following 21 separate fires. We're only able to provide a little hope to these neighbors who have lost everything in the blink of an eye thanks to your support. And if that's not a good enough reason to #SpringItOn, I don't know what is!!

Red Cross Assists 110 People in Erie and Niagara Counties Following Fires in February

During Red Cross Month, Honor the Everyday Heroes Who Help Our Community

BUFFALO, NY, February 28, 2013 — During Red Cross Month this March, the American Red Cross recognizes the nation’s Everyday Heroes who give of themselves and in some way help their community. Those heroes include everyone who volunteers to be part of our Disaster Action Team (DAT), which has responded to 21 separate fires in Erie and Niagara Counties in February, providing immediate emergency assistance to 110 people.

“Please remember those who help all of us here in Western New York by giving their time to help their neighbor,” said Kenneth Turner, Chief Programs Officer. “We want to thank all our heroes during Red Cross Month – our volunteers, blood donors, class takers and financial supporters who help us assist those in need.” 

DAT volunteer Diane Sargent on the scene of
a fire on Cazenovia St in Buffalo on February 23

Red Cross assistance following a fire typically includes vouchers for temporary housing, food and clothing, as well as emotional support from trained Disaster Mental Health volunteers. On Friday, February 22, volunteers opened a shelter for more than 27 residents displaced when their Forest Avenue apartment house in Buffalo was destroyed by fire. Earlier that morning, DAT volunteers responded to a call on Timon Street in Buffalo to assist ten people, and the Red Cross continues to support those affected by this tragic fire which claimed the lives of a young child and his mother. The Disaster Action Team was called to a third fire later that afternoon on Rose Street in Buffalo. Those are just three of the 11 fires volunteers have responded to in Erie County in February. During that same time frame, 35 Niagara County residents have received Red Cross assistance following ten separate fires.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world; collects and distributes about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than seven million people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills every year.

March was first proclaimed as Red Cross Month 70 years ago by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Since 1943, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month. The American Red Cross is synonymous with helping people, and has been doing so for more than 130 years.

“Red Cross Month is a great time for people to become part of the Red Cross and there are many different ways to do it,” Turner said. “They can develop a preparedness plan for their household, become a Red Cross volunteer, give blood, or take a Red Cross class, just to name a few.”

The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work. An average of 91 cents of every dollar given to the Red Cross is invested in helping people in need.

For more information on how to become an Everyday Hero during Red Cross Month, please visit www.redcross.org/buffaloniagara. 

We Have a Winner!!

Believe it or not, another Red Cross Month is coming to an end.  And with the end of March comes the end of our first ever Red Cross Moments contest!  Back on March 1, we asked you to share your experiences with the Red Cross, with the story deemed the best earning two free general admission tickets to BASH*2011!  Well, it wasn't easy, but we've picked a winner!  For sharing the following story, Jessica will get join over 4,000 of her closest friends at the party of the year on June 3rd--for free!!

"I (with my whole family) volunteered with the American Red Cross chapter in Goshen NY (just north of NYC) for the immediate days following the 9/11 attacks. We all worked tirelessly to move donations ranging from dog food for rescue dogs to first aid supplies and water to the men and women in NYC. I was still a teenager when this happened, 16 to be exact, but I do remember my awe at the amount of help and donations that were coming in. It was amazing. It was probably one of the most rewarding experiences of my life.  And to boot, I've been a registered blood donor since my first blood drive in High School at 17, and I carry my donor card proudly! Here I am, 10 years later, still a supporter of the American Red Cross. The Red Cross provides excellent services to people in time of crisis, and I'm glad I've been a part of it!!!"

Thank you for sharing your inspirational story, Jessica, and for continuing to be a donor for nearly a decade!  We look forward to seeing you at BASH!!

The contest may be over, but we still want to hear Red Cross Moments!  The stories of your experiences can help us improve our services, and let the community know what we have to offer.  Please click on the "Tell Us Your Red Cross Moments" button on the left hand side of this page to send us your stories!

And if you want to join Jessica at BASH*2011 on Friday, June 3rd, you might have trouble getting in this year!  Tickets are going fast--one $100 raffle ticket gets you two tickets to the general admission tent, two drinks per person, all the food you can eat, PLUS the chance to win $10,000, $5,000, or $2,500!  For more on how you can be a part of what Artvoice calls Buffalo's Best Annual Fundraiser, visit http://www.buffaloredcross.org/Bash.html

Looking for the next cool thing? Join Us!

It’s one of our favorite months here at the Chapter… Red Cross Month! Or March, as everyone else seems to call it.  Regardless, throughout Red Cross Month we like to concentrate on community outreach and ask our neighbors to Join Us by volunteering their time, making a donation, taking a class, or giving blood. 

“When someone provides a hot meal to a disaster victim, gives blood, takes a first aid class, or helps someone in the military, they join the Red Cross. We want to say ‘thank you’ to all who support us. That support enables us to provide help and hope to those who need our assistance.”--
Nancy Blaschak, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter

The American Red Cross has been helping people here in Buffalo since 1916, responding to disasters, assisting members of the military, teaching lifesaving skills, and serving as one of the largest blood suppliers in the United States.

In 2010 alone, we:

·         Responded and provided assistance in over 170 local disasters

·         Processed 279 emergency military calls

·         Trained 24,215 people to save a life through our Red Cross health and safety trainings

·         Provided transportation assistance to 197 people living with HIV/AIDS

·         Assisted residents of nursing homes and assisted living facilities 3,640 times through our Ombudsman program.

 “When people join the Red Cross by volunteering, donating blood, taking a course or making a contribution, they enable us to continue our work, both here at home, and around the world.”--
Nancy Blaschak, Executive Director of the American Red Cross, Greater Buffalo Chapter

So keep your eyes open for us this month to learn about all of the different services, programs and various opportunities we will be highlighting for something that might interest you in joining us here at the Greater Buffalo Chapter!

For more information on everything that we do here in Buffalo, please visit us online.

To stay up to date on everything that is going on in the fabulous month of March, be sure to follow us on our Chapter’s blog, Facebook and Twitter!