"Helping people is my main goal"

 

By Pat Kondas

Deidra and Larry York have been Red Cross volunteers for several years - Deidra for twelve years and Larry for the last three years. Since she joined Red Cross, Deidra has deployed nine times in the last few years because "helping people is my main goal. I cannot sit at home if there's a disaster, especially in my home community." Larry finally joined up because, Deidra says, "he finally decided that I was going to keep doing it, and he didn't like being at home by himself, so he decided to do it, too." Now they always deploy together, usually in Damage Assessment, where Red Cross uses data to inform the needs of the community affected.

 

They love the Damage Assessment work because Larry likes to drive around. "That's his thing," Deidra explained. So, he does the driving, and she does the paperwork side of it. For the Kentucky tornado relief operation, they were first assigned to an Emergency Aid Station in Benton. Between Deidra and Larry, they knew almost every single community member that came by for relief supplies or Red Cross information.

 

While they were at the aid station, local neighbors would drop off items at the nearby distribution area. "I have to brag on the community a little. It has been amazing. Even the Red Cross volunteers from other states said they had never seen the outpouring of support for a community like our home has."

Their next assignment was at the relief operation’s headquarters, where their local knowledge and experience at the Red Cross was extremely valuable. They assisted in different areas, including helping the Finance Team organize and record the Client Assistance Cards that disaster responders use to get assistance directly to people.

 

As a member of the Disaster Action Team for the Western Kentucky Chapter, Deidra is familiar with getting assistance cards to clients after intake is completed. Not only did she help support many needs, but Deidra also responded twice to local home fires to help families affected by a different type of disaster.  

Deidra and Larry are the kind of volunteers that make up the Red Cross. Their willingness to shift to help with whatever work needs to be done. The Red Cross thanks you for being such a great team. You are appreciated. Join them at redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Deidra York shows off her collection of Red Cross pins and patches. 

Her Kentucky Pride pin stands out the most.