Northeast Tennessee Volunteer Spotlight, Robertson Family - June 2018

When a family finds themselves out of their home due to a fire in Greene County they may experience a Red Cross response from very experienced and compassionate volunteers. Often the response comes from Summer, Louis or Kelsey Robertson.  Not only have the Robertson family been trained in disaster response by the Red Cross; they experienced the loss of their own home to a fire in October of 2016. Red Cross volunteers were at their home at 10PM at night when their family – husband Louis, wife Summer, 3 teenagers, and dog were suddenly without anything.  Summer says not only were they helped with necessities and a place to stay, the Red Cross volunteers checked with them daily as they were able to make progress on their recovery. She says it took them 3 weeks to find a rental and begin their recovery.

Summer tells me she, husband Louis, and daughter Kelsey all now volunteer for the Red Cross and have responded to families who have a local disaster – usually a fire in Greene County. They have responded together but more often respond separately. Summer has the most flexible schedule so they can respond during the daytime. She was also able to travel to Miami, Florida to assist with the Red Cross response to Hurricane Irma. Louis usually responds to disasters in the evenings or on weekends.  Kelsey was recently able to assist her mother with a fire response.  Kelsey also took part in a recent simulated disaster – registering people as they came into the “shelter”. Summer has been able to assist with preparing the community for a larger disaster by conducting school inspections to ensure the Red Cross has the information needed to open a shelter.

The very best part of volunteering is the gratitude of the families they help. Summer says when the families are at their lowest point; they are so grateful for whatever help is given. The ability to give the families a few hundred dollars for needed food, clothing, or shelter may not seem like much; but to them it is much, much more. And it cannot go without saying they most certainly receive good advice and understanding from the Robertsons!

This family certainly knows how to give back to the community! Interested in knowing how you can respond with the Red Cross in time of disaster? As a family or as an individual? Contact Angela Morris by calling 423-765-4218 or email her at angela.morris@redcross.org