Volunteer Appreciation Month: Richard Peters

As a firefighter of 20 years and a Hardin County native, Richard Peters thought volunteering with the American Red Cross South Central Kentucky Chapter was a perfect fit after he retired.

Photos courtesy Richard Peters

“When I left the fire service, I still felt the need to help folks out in their worst times,” said Richard. “As a firefighter, we relied on the Red Cross for client assistance and also to be there for us and our folks with the canteen services they provided.”

Richard has been volunteering with Red Cross in Elizabethtown for going on four years. Starting out, he was doing intake for residents impacted by disasters and volunteering as part of canteen services. As time went on, he moved into the role of Duty Officer. “As the duty officer […], I field the calls from the National Red Cross line and assign them to the local case workers.”

Richard also helps maintain the fleet that is assigned to the chapter office and makes sure that they are kept ready for service. He helps train new volunteers to fulfill the Red Cross mission. “I have learned that everyone learns at different paces and are willing to do different aspects of the job,” said Richard.

For Richard, volunteering is interesting because of how different each situation can be.

“Everyone reacts differently to a stranger coming in to help,” he said. “Dealing with the emotions of each individual that is involved can be a challenge, but it is a very rewarding challenge in the end.”

One of the most memorable things Richard has experienced with the Red Cross was responding as the tornado that went through Bowling Green, KY in 2021.

“Seeing the diversity in one town and not having an idea that there were so many different nationalities living in the town,” Richard explained. “I remember sitting and talking with an individual that had twin babies and having to have everything I said repeated through an interpreter.”

For Richard, volunteering with the Red Cross means being willing to lend a hand and being able to lift some weight off someone’s shoulders. “If I am able to assist somebody having a bad day, then I have fulfilled the calling that has been placed upon my life,” said Richard.

When he isn’t volunteering with the Red Cross, Richard enjoys working with people and helping in any way that he can. He has spent many hours with volunteer organizations, from the food bank at his church to being a firefighter, and he tries to make a difference however he can.

“If I can help someone, that is all I am out to do,” said Richard. “I just have the heart of a servant and God had placed a calling on my life to do so.”

Thank you, Richard, for all you do! Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteertoday