Volunteer Profiles

• Red Cross Volunteer Donates Time to Help Toronto’s Homeless
• Volunteer Active Member of Disaster Management Team in Durham Region
• Red Cross Volunteer Responds to Disasters in Windsor-Essex
• London-area Volunteer Helps Across the World and Across the Street
• Sault Ste. Marie Volunteer Wears Many Different Hats
• Volunteer Plays Important Role at Red Cross Ottawa Branch
• Sarnia Transportation Volunteer Provides Rides with Heart
• Red Cross Volunteers Serve Meals with Smiles to Toronto’s Homeless
• Cornwall Resident Says Volunteering Keeps Her Active
• Eight Years, Many Kilometres and No Sign of Stopping for Red Cross Volunteer
• Halton Resident Volunteers Up to 40 Hours per Month with Red Cross
• Volunteer Provides Leadership in Port Hope
• Youth Volunteer Teaches Emergency Preparedness in Niagara Region
• Disaster Management Volunteer Grateful to Help in Someone's Time of Need
• Niagara Resident Provides Leadership for Red Cross Youth
• Woodstock Branch President Devoted to Red Cross and Community
• Volunteer's Devotion Helps Endure Through Snow Storm
• Chatham Volunteer Assisted During Some Well-Known Emergencies
• Volunteer Ready to Assist When Disasters Strikes in Ottawa

Youth Volunteer Teaches Emergency Preparedness in Niagara Region

Volunteering with the disaster management program for the Red Cross Niagara branch since 2006, Darby Pierson serves as a member of the emergency response team, responding to disasters within the community. 

Darby Pierson teaches kids and adults about emergency preparedness.

 “Volunteering has had a profound impact on my life. I’m sure all volunteers out there feel the same way,” says the 26 year-old. “Volunteering has given me so much more than I could have ever imagined. The chance to have a direct impact on my community and to learn so much about disaster management and community preparedness has been invaluable.”

Darby has had the opportunity to volunteer in a shelter following a severe winter storm and was part of a team that responded to a large apartment fire. Darby also carries the responsibilities of the lead volunteer for public education, presenting on personal preparedness for adults and children in the community.

“They love to think of the most severe and extreme cases they can and then ask what they should do,” she says, reflecting upon her experiences with children across the community. “Like when an eight-year-old asks what to do if they are alone in the woods and there is a lightning storm, a tornado, a flood and a forest fire all happening at the same time.”

Darby sees her Red Cross experience as her opportunity to work on exciting projects that she would never have done in her life, meet new people and build new friendships, and truly nurture her skills as an individual.

“I’ve been inspired by both the clients we serve and the other volunteers I work with. The clients we serve, especially children, inspire me with the resilience, “she says. “Even after losing almost everything in an apartment fire, a little boy said to me ‘at least no one was hurt.’”

- Written by Arnav Agarwal, Canadian Red Cross youth volunteer