April 6-12 is National Volunteer Week. Meet some of the inspiring Red Cross volunteers who help us fulfill our mission in communities across Canada.
Erin Kielly is a strong, proud Red Cross volunteer on Prince Edward Island. Erin began volunteering with Red Cross following her graduation from university, first in disaster management and subsequently as a member of the Red Cross Provincial Advisory Council and the Atlantic Council.
She credits her parents with instilling in her this commitment to volunteer work. She felt that Red Cross was an organization with a strong international and local reputation that could give her a rewarding volunteer experience.
Erin sees Disaster Management as an opportunity to directly help people. It is, for her, that instant gratification where you immediately see the impact you are having. Whether it is an individual family or a whole community that needs support, Erin finds her participation in disaster response activities very rewarding.
She is impressed with the strong relationships that she has been able to forge with both staff and other volunteers. The recent death of a volunteer highlighted the strength of the bonds that are formed. Erin will never forget the impact of Red Cross staff and volunteers being asked by the family to sit as family members at the funeral.
Another thing that impresses Erin about her Red Cross experience is the lack of barriers between staff and volunteers. “There is a whole level of trust here that is awesome,” she said, “I really feel valued and that is a huge motivator.” She also appreciates the professional development opportunities she is given as a volunteer and how staff and volunteers encourage each other to stretch themselves and grow.
Erin was drawn to serving on the Red Cross council because of her love of planning and policy. She feels that this arena is a place where she can express her views and contribute to the future direction of the organization.
Erin sees her commitment to Red Cross leading well into the future and as a mother feels that it is important for her children to see her volunteering and giving back to her community. She is already bringing her two year old along during her volunteering when it is appropriate....a new Red Crosser in the making.
Erin Kielly is a strong, proud Red Cross volunteer on Prince Edward Island. Erin began volunteering with Red Cross following her graduation from university, first in disaster management and subsequently as a member of the Red Cross Provincial Advisory Council and the Atlantic Council.She credits her parents with instilling in her this commitment to volunteer work. She felt that Red Cross was an organization with a strong international and local reputation that could give her a rewarding volunteer experience.
Erin sees Disaster Management as an opportunity to directly help people. It is, for her, that instant gratification where you immediately see the impact you are having. Whether it is an individual family or a whole community that needs support, Erin finds her participation in disaster response activities very rewarding.
She is impressed with the strong relationships that she has been able to forge with both staff and other volunteers. The recent death of a volunteer highlighted the strength of the bonds that are formed. Erin will never forget the impact of Red Cross staff and volunteers being asked by the family to sit as family members at the funeral.
Another thing that impresses Erin about her Red Cross experience is the lack of barriers between staff and volunteers. “There is a whole level of trust here that is awesome,” she said, “I really feel valued and that is a huge motivator.” She also appreciates the professional development opportunities she is given as a volunteer and how staff and volunteers encourage each other to stretch themselves and grow.
Erin was drawn to serving on the Red Cross council because of her love of planning and policy. She feels that this arena is a place where she can express her views and contribute to the future direction of the organization.
Erin sees her commitment to Red Cross leading well into the future and as a mother feels that it is important for her children to see her volunteering and giving back to her community. She is already bringing her two year old along during her volunteering when it is appropriate....a new Red Crosser in the making.
