VT volunteer dedicates retirement to disaster relief with the Red Cross
ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (ABC22 FOX44) — Mary Morris has been responding to disasters for the past two and a half years. Her volunteer work with the American Red Cross has taken her to places as far as Florida, Mississippi and North Carolina. But the 62-year-old from Essex has also responded to disasters closer to home, including the July 2023 and 2024 floods.
'We were literally driving around bringing buckets and mops and gloves to people that couldn't get out,' said Morris.
The retiree, who specializes in mass client care, often works in disaster shelters, getting people connected with the right resources. Morris says while her assignments can be grueling, they are also incredibly humbling.
'It's hard work but that doesn't scare me. I have been blessed by meeting some wonderful people, both those that have been affected by the storm and those that just turn around and want to help somebody and teammates that I have made lifelong friends with.'
John Montes, a Northern New England Regional Disaster Officer, tells me the Red Cross responded to over 400 requests for services in Vermont last year— with close to 50 Vermonters volunteering during the 2024 floods.
'If you're doing a good job helping people and people know we're out there to do that and they say thank you because we're there when something bad happens to them— it's pretty amazing,' he said.
Montes says some of the disaster services the Red Cross provides includes immediate on-the ground assistance, financial support, mental health services, spiritual care and case work. But at the end of the day, for volunteers like Morris, much of their work is about bringing people together.
'And that's what community is all about, making sure that we remain strong for each other and that we can move forward and grow,' she said.
You can learn more about volunteering and disaster services by visiting redcross.org.
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