Skip to Main ContentSkip to Section navigationSkip to Main NavigationSkip to Search
American Red Cross - Kansas City Chapter
Search: 
Go   |  Contact Us  |  Site Map  |  Home
About UsNewsroomPublicationsCommunity ResourcesRed Cross StoreCareer OpportunitiesIn the News
Program and Services
Volunteer
 
Financial Donations
Give Blood
Safety Tips
Training Classes
Red Cross in the Classroom
Print this page E-mail someone else about this class  

Gwenda Fleming

Since November 2004, Gwenda Fleming has been there to serve her community as a Red Cross volunteer. As a member of the organization’s Disaster Action Team (DAT), Gwenda is part of a group of trained volunteers who respond to disaster scenes in order to provide immediate services to victims and relief workers.

Gwenda FlemingLocally, DATs most often respond to residence fires. In fact, volunteers from the Greater Kansas City Red Cross are called to an average of two residence fires every day. As a DAT volunteer, Gwenda assists those affected by fire with their urgent needs – such as food, clothing, and temporary shelter. In addition to the tangible assistance these volunteers are able to provide, DATs also try to offer comfort to the families at the scene.

“I like knowing that I am helping someone that really has an immediate need,” said Gwenda. “You can’t do everything for them, but you can help them stop and take a breath, assess where they are at, and help them with where they can go from that point on. It makes me feel good to at least help them get through that moment.”

Part of volunteering as a member of the Disaster Action Team includes being on-call on a rotational basis. Each month DAT volunteers list their availability on a calendar, and this calendar determines who is called to respond to a local emergency. As a mother and full-time employee at UPS, Gwenda chooses to give some of her free evenings and weekends to the Red Cross to serve her community in Belton and Cass County, as well as the midtown area of Kansas City that is frequently plagued with residence fires.

It is because of volunteers like Gwenda that the American Red Cross is able to be there, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to help members of our community during times of need. If you are interested in learning about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross, please call (816) 931-8400.
American Red Cross
Greater Kansas City Chapter
211 W. Armour Blvd.
Kansas City, MO 64111 USA		         Phone 816-931-8400
Fax 816-531-7306		 United Way Member Agency

© 2003-2008 The American Red Cross. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of Use | Privacy Policy