Tennessee River Volunteer Spotlight, Deborah Dawson - April 2018

This month we are spotlighting Deborah Dawson, Sheltering Coordinator for the Tennessee River Chapter of the American Red Cross. As coordinator, Deborah trains volunteers to become shelter workers and shelter managers in times of disasters.  She also works closely with her chapter’s Facilities Coordinator who reaches out to various churches to become possible shelter sites.

Deborah has been a Red Cross volunteer for about a year and a half. She’s retired from the State of Texas Department of Aged and Disabled, where she was a case worker for 14 years. Deborah has been in Tennessee for about four years now, having come here to be with her son who, is in school in Clarksville. She has another son in Texas as well as a grandson.

Deborah said she’s always wanted to be a volunteer for the Red Cross. “I wanted to work with people who had gone through disasters and had immediate needs,” she said. “I wanted to give back to those who had been through disasters. Having been in several tornadoes in Texas has made me aware of how close disaster situations can hit home.”

Deborah is an outstanding example of the kind of dedication needed to help with the Red Cross mission of helping others in time of need.