My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Steve Peth

To Steve Peth, life is about the humbling moments -- the moments unlocked only by stretching oneself as a devoted volunteer. This remarkable man has let his unwavering sincerity to shine through by aligning himself with the Red Cross. A volunteer with this organization, specifically at its renowned Walter Reed Army Medical Center, since July 5, 2006, this man wholly embraces the vital essence of volunteerism. Decidedly, Steve’s journey is quite inspiring and worth reading more about.

Before Steve began contributing service to the Red Cross, he

 was involved with the military -- particularly as an enlisted man, a warrant officer, a commissioned officer, and a DUSTOFF pilot in Vietnam. Despite needing to grapple with the fierce ache of a bullet wound -- and the consequent operations on it -- he still couldn't be discouraged from this realm of service; the military efforts in Vietnam were too close to Steve’s heart. Ultimately, there were two essential connections he forged with the Red Cross as a result of these experiences during this time of his life: one was sparked when he flew an aircraft graced by the Red Cross insignia for 11 months, with the purpose of traveling in and out of battle, rescuing wounded American civilians and combatants; the other one was born when, as a military retiree, he received some medical care at Walter Reed. At the end of the day, the Red Cross became a symbol of hope and renewal for Steve, and thus the most appropriate organization for him to intertwine with. Involvement arose from a simple, sincere belief: “I felt I could provide the necessary empathy to be a good volunteer.”

Today, Steve volunteers at the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, MD, holding two working positions: one, a volunteer in the Physical Therapy Outpatient Clinic; and two, Medical Clinic Chairman, Walter Reed Department of Rehabilitation.  In the Physical Therapy Clinic, he assists the therapists by dressing treatment tables; exchanging linen; retrieving, exchanging and cleaning exercise equipment; cleaning mats; transporting patients; and whatever else the staff needs to have done on the days he is there.  As Medical Clinic Chairman, he is responsible for screening, orienting, training, and placing all Red Cross volunteers in the Department of Rehabilitation.  Additionally, he serves as the single point of contact for all Red Cross activities in the Department of Rehabilitation and responds to the Department Head and Clinic Chiefs.  The average number of volunteers serving in the Department is over 70.

On July 15, 2015, Steve underwent the greatly affirming experience of leading Gail McGovern, President and CEO of the American Red Cross, and Koby Langley, American Red Cross Senior Vice President for Service to the Armed Forces, on a tour of the Department of Rehabilitation. Ever the humble man, Steve informed me, “I thought my service to the Department was valued by the staff but I never knew for sure until this particular visit.” According to Steve, the comments made by the clinic Chiefs and the Department Heads about him during this unforgettable tour were “extraordinary, sincere and unsolicited,” and, furthermore, he emphasized to me, “I will never forget it and, knowing how they feel about my service with the Red Cross, I stay motivated to continue what I am doing.” Seeing Steve compelled by such nonmaterial things as words is truly inspirational.

Irrevocably, Steve Peth is a critical factor in the Walter Reed Center’s  -- and, moreover, the Red Cross’ -- success in reviving humanity during its most taxing moments. There's no incentive a person ought to be vying for. As a conclusion to our enlightening interview, Steve shared the bare truth: “Those considering service with the Red Cross should make sure they are doing it for the right reasons.” I encourage everyone to follow in this praiseworthy man’s footsteps.

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Kenneth Hamilton

For seven years, Kenneth Hamilton has “served with dedication and heart,” according to one of our leading volunteers. Another leading volunteer states that, when attending Ken’s briefing, she has been “very impressed, not only with his professionalism, but also his promotion of the Red Cross at Fort Belvoir.

Ken Hamilton, a U.S. Air Force retiree and health care recipient at the Fort Belvoir DeWitt Army Hospital, was inspired to strengthen communication between patients and their families with the hospital caregivers. Upon learning that the hospital had established a Patient Family Advisory Council (PFAC), Ken joined the Council in 2009. He also became a Red Cross volunteer, a hospital requirement for all non-government employees serving on the Council. Because of his commitment to the goals of the PFAC and his strong leadership skill, Ken became chair in 2010 and also appointed a co-chair to assist with the group’s important work.

In his role as co-chair of the Hospital’s PFAC, Ken has provided valuable service as a collaborative voice of the patients and their families to the hospital’s professional staff, strengthening their relationships and communications. Under Ken’s leadership, the PFAC has matured and developed into a valued and respected hospital asset. His views, as a voice of the patients and families, are actively sought through representation at the hospital’s operational committee meetings and through invitations by other groups interested in establishing a similar functional group. In heralding the importance of the PFAC in providing patient feedback to the hospital, Ken emphasizes that the doctors and nurses know how to run the hospital. But he notes that, “What is changing is what patients need to know about their care.” The PFAC has had an impact at the hospital in improving communications among the patients and staff.”

In addition to the many hours of volunteer service at the hospital, Ken assisted a number of outreach events. He was particularly helpful to SAF Headquarters staff in its lab testing and video taping of the Service to the Armed Forces Client Self-Service platform. Ken’s outreach activities, both at the hospital’s Patient Orientation briefings and at many community events around the National Capital Region, have provided an extremely beneficial boost to the military community’s knowledge and understanding of American Red Cross programs in Service to the Armed Forces.

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: Susan Demetri

Susan Demetri began her journey with the American Red Cross in the summer of 1990, shortly after the loss of her little grand daughter, Amy, who was a preemie and only with the family for two months. Susan recalls that she “quickly became aware that my heart was guiding me to use the grief I was feeling in a beneficial way.” The opportunity to volunteer at the Mother/Baby Unit at the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, then the DeWitt Hospital, became a catalyst for her healing. 

As a career military wife whose children had grown up and moved away, Susan wanted to help make becoming a new mom as easy as she could for other women, in any way that she could. Susan states, “In the nearly 25 years that I have been blessed to be with the unit, I have met some of the most incredible people. I learned so much that I wish I had known when my babies were little, I passed along some of the knowledge I gained from nurturing my own children to an estimated 25,000 mothers, and I enjoyed the feeling of being part of a team that strives to make parenthood the blessing it is intended to be.”  

Susan expresses gratitude to the American Red Cross for giving her this life-changing opportunity, and the hope that she will be able to continue on “at least for a few more years.” Susan’s caring, comfort and sharing of her knowledge and experience with new mothers and their babies represent the best characteristics of American Red Cross volunteers.

Currently, Susan volunteers with our Service to the Armed Forces team as an Impatient Volunteer at Mother Baby Unit at Fort Belvoir Community Hospital. To learn more about how you can help nurture your community please visit redcross.org/volunteer. 

My Red Cross Story: Gretchen Neels

Gretchen (on the far right) attends the 2015 Salute to Service Gala with fellow Tiffany Circle Members

Meet Gretchen Neels, a woman of the utmost, untiring compassion. Her journey as a Red Cross supporter was sparked in 2008 when she joined the Tiffany Circle, a society of women leaders and philanthropists from regions across the U.S. As a part of this group, Gretchen carries on our founder Clara Barton’s legacy to support the Red Cross mission.

Gretchen loves how her current actions can link her to such a strong legacy. She is heavily involved in the Tiffany Circle of the National Capital Region and assumes extra responsibilities as the Co-Chair. Such a role entails raising funds at events, attending galas, steering official Tiffany circle meetings and other social gatherings. Her ultimate purpose, though, is to weave together the circle’s 30 or so members and ensure that each woman feels confident about where her donations are headed to, and why. When all is said and done, Gretchen gives about ten hours per month to this organization.  

In addition to her administrative tasks, Gretchen also nurtures a desire to directly impact the surrounding communities with her own two hands. A perfect example is her devotion to the Home Fire Campaign, a project that aims to reduce the number of fire deaths and injuries in the U.S. by 25% within five years. Along with her team of fellow humanitarians, they go door-to-door in neighborhoods that are at high-risk for fires to deliver fire safety information and install free smoke alarms.

Unfortunately, fires have made an impact on Gretchen’s life in additional ways. Her daughter underwent the traumatic struggle of losing her condo to a fire. Not a single possession of hers could be salvaged, but thankfully an organization was committed to helping her and other individuals persevere: the American Red Cross. As Gretchen’s daughter struggled with the aftermath, the Red Cross assisted with her immediate needs, including providing comfort kit items. The Red Cross took an overwhelming experience and provided Gretchen’s daughter with compassionate care. Those tender moments etched a lasting impression of this organization on Gretchen’s mind and undoubtedly resulted in her giving back in any way possible.

The Red Cross is fortunate to have such a remarkable woman like Gretchen Neels in its Tiffany Circle society. With a seemingly never-ending supply of enthusiasm guiding her, she constantly supports the Red Cross. As Gretchen so aptly put it, “We help everybody. There’s no boundary. It doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, black or white, a man or a woman, we will help.” Gretchen not only says such words – she brings them to life.

My Red Cross Volunteer Story: John Mead

Prince William County volunteer John Mead has been helping the American Red Cross prepare for, respond to and recover from many types of disasters over the past three years. John started on the on the Disaster Action Team (DAT) in the National Capital and Richmond regions. Now he is providing comfort and care to people affected by emergencies across the country. Recently, John volunteered with a virtual disaster deployment providing people with tools and resources they need after a disaster. Now he is serving in Austin, TX to help the Red Cross meet immediate disaster-caused or disaster-aggravated needs. For a few weeks, John will be providing on-site aid to the thousands of families facing the devastating aftermath following flooding, tornadoes and severe weather. He joins other Red Cross volunteers providing shelters throughout the state and helping residents cope with the emotion toll. 

John was first interested in the Red Cross because he liked how the organization brings together everyday people to take action and provide one-on-one assistance to those in need. When he is not volunteering with the DAT, John enjoys supporting the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) team and with special events. His goal as a volunteer is simple: “I’m just an normal guy who wants to help people in need and the Red Cross is a great place for me to do that.”

Through Red Cross volunteer responsibilities, John and others witness firsthand how they can make a difference. Learn more about how you can get involved down the street, across the country or around the world. See the latest update on the Texas response efforts and how you can help those impacted.