Volunteer Story: Denise Schossler

Written by: Courtney Clarke, Communications Volunteer

Denise Schossler currently volunteers as a
Red Cross Blood Ambassador.

Years of service: 19 years

Resides: Falls Church, Virginia

Profession: Retired Assistant Departmental 

HR Director, US Dept of Transportation 

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"There is a job for anyone who's willing to give their time to the
Red Cross, and it is certainly worthwhile.  People helping people
should be one of the basic foundations of life."

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What made you want to volunteer with the Red Cross?

It was the summer of 2000 when Denise Schossler decided to volunteer with her local Red Cross chapter in Virginia. She was planning her retirement from a career at the U.S. Department of Transportation and signed up for a pre-retirement seminar, where a speaker said something that resonated with her. 

“The worst thing you can do is think you’ll grow old sitting on your porch swing,” the speaker said. “You’ll be bored. You’ll live a longer life if you find things that interest you. Find some activities and try them out before you retire.” 

Denise made a resolve then and there to try at least three new things. She immediately signed up to volunteer at the Red Cross, usher at the Wolf Trap venue during concerts and volunteer with Travelers Aid at Reagan National Airport. She is still active in each of these volunteer roles today, nearly 20 years later (and long past retirement). 

What is a memorable experience?

Denise will never forget the irony of the Red Cross orientation for new volunteers in the summer of 2000. During orientation, the organizer put up map of Arlington county to show the geographic borders of the branch. “We do a lot of shelter drills over here,” the speaker said pointing to an area near the center of the map. “Oh, and here’s the airport and Pentagon - they are technically in our territory, but nothing ever happens to them.”

Then 9/11 happened.  

“I suddenly found myself volunteering from midnight to 8 am for several weeks in a row, on top of working my day job. We passed out boots, sleeping bags and other kinds of supplies to first responders. We brought dog food for search-and-rescue dogs. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), my employer at the time, encouraged employees to volunteer outside of work. It was a unifying effort. We all had a common purpose. People were so grateful for our help.”

For up to a week following the attack, Red Cross volunteers worked 24 hours a day, providing meals and supplies. The parking lot area was devoted to search and rescue. Smoke wafted off the side of the building. The air was thick, and tensions were high. 

“Because I had a security level detail at DOT, I was able to drive supplies down with a golf cart to top-level security rooms two levels underground at the Pentagon, where folks with security clearance were all hands on deck dealing with the situation.” 

“It was a privilege to be a part of the relief efforts for 9/11,” Denise said of the experience. “There was a constant stream of responders, both military and civilian. There were search-and-rescue dogs. We provided any and all supplies needed. It made me feel proud to be a part of the recovery effort. It was emotional, but I was proud because there was a national disaster and there I was, in my own tiny little way, just handing out dog food, but I was a crucial part of the American response as a Red Cross volunteer.”

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“The Red Cross has enriched my life in the sense that I get to
help people. We are nothing if we don’t help each other. Who knows
when you or I will need help.”

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Hurricane Katrina

In 2005, Denise was called in to assist with another national crisis. Hurricane Katrina had hit New Orleans with such ferocity that it displaced more than a million people in the first few days, and nearly 600,000 remained displaced up to a month after. At the time, the Red Cross had a central 1-800 number for national disasters, and the national call center was located in Virginia. By this time, Denise had retired from the DOT and had much more flexibility with her time.

“I couldn’t travel to New Orleans, but people around the country would come to work shifts in the national call center, which was coordinated and run by permanent Red Cross staff. During the aftermath of Katrina, I would go almost every day and help with the call center administration. They treated me like I was part of permanent staff. I really felt like I made a difference.”

She reflects on the lessons learned during her time working on Katrina relief efforts. 

“We knew Katrina was going to be bad. We got well over a million calls during Katrina within the first few weeks. It was amazing how people come together to help each other. As a disaster volunteer, I felt like I was helping. I couldn’t go out of town, or be boots on ground at disaster site, but I could help the people. And helping people is what it’s about.” 

Eventually, she says, the Red Cross changed their business model and eliminated the national call center, moving it instead to staffers around the country. But during Katrina, the national call center was a crucial part of recovery efforts.

Denise is recording a public service announcement to recruit Blood Ambassadors for the Red Cross blood program.

Local Efforts in Disaster Relief and as a Blood Ambassador

When not responding to national relief efforts, Denise’s Red Cross duties have mostly included disasters around Arlington County, like apartment and house fires. She would go in the middle of the night to meet with clients who had lost their home, taking their information and determining their needs. 

“People who watch their homes go up in flames, who are displaced by fire, who have lost everything… they are in shock. We help them find their relatives, shelter, clothes and food. We find a hotel/motel to accommodate them. We issue clothing vouchers. Every situation, every disaster is different, but what the Red Cross does, and what I was a part of, was figuring out what resources we have available to help these people.”

Eventually she transitioned from disaster services and into blood bank service, as a Blood Ambassador. 

“Blood Ambassadors are the people who go to onsite blood mobiles, most of which are at employer-based sites, and we check people in, handle walk-ins and update the schedule. It’s not as dramatic as disaster services but it’s just as important because without someone running front desk, the phlebotomist can’t get their work done. It takes a team. It’s not a dramatic role, but it’s an important one.”

Now, Denise spends her days volunteering and enjoying time with her family. She has four grandchildren, and she helps take care of her mother, who is 98 years old. She has made sure her grandchildren understand the importance of her Red Cross work.

“The Red Cross has enriched my life in the sense that I get to help people. We are nothing if we don’t help each other. Who knows when you or I will need help. People need to help people. I have volunteered for around 20 years, and it has been a big part of my life.”

If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross, please visit us at redcross.org/volunteer.