Board Member Urges Donations of Time as Well as Money

Jennifer Wolcott said she was inspired by Shelia Gibbs of Lebanon, Tennessee, who told Red Cross volunteers that the loss of her home and possessions was "just stuff" and what mattered was the safety of her family. Photo: American Red Cross/Barbara Wood

Jennifer Wolcott normally supports the American Red Cross Tennessee Region by serving on its board of directors and as a major cheerleader and fundraiser for the organization. 

Recently, however, she donned a Red Cross disaster vest, a hat and gloves and helped crew a Red Cross emergency response vehicle to bring hot meals, snacks, water and supplies to Lebanon, Tennessee neighborhoods devastated by the March 3 tornadoes.

Jennifer joined three fellow Red Cross volunteers: drivers Carol Stafford and Marty Anderson, both of Alabama and Amanda Fisher of Franklin, Tennessee.

After disinfecting the vehicle, which is designed to serve and carry hot food and supplies, Jennifer and the other volunteers loaded up water, snacks and hygiene kits. They stopped at Second Harvest in Nashville to pick up insulated containers of hot food and then hit the road. 

Residents of a mobile home park off Lebanon's Tater Peeler Road that had been devastated by the tornado gathered around the vehicle after the crew announced through a loudspeaker that they had hot meals to offer. 

Another Red Cross vehicle with kits of cleaning supplies -- including rakes, shovels, buckets, bleach and gloves -- pulled up nearby, and the park residents left with armloads of supplies as well as food, many smiling with gratitude. 

Jennifer, who is also Red Cross trained to work in a disaster shelter, said providing help and speaking with those who had been affected by the disaster, gave her "joy." She was especially touched, she said, by a woman who was positive and upbeat despite losing her family home and most of her possessions to the tornado. 

The woman told the Red Cross that the huge pile of debris that was all that remained of the family home was "just stuff" and that what really mattered was that she still had her family.

Jennifer Wolcott, a member of the Red Cross Nashville Area's board, joined an emergency response vehicle crew recently to help bring hot meals, snacks, water and supplies to Lebanon, Tennessee neighborhoods devastated by the March 3 tornadoes. Photo: American Red Cross/Barbara Wood 

"I've said before 'it's just stuff' when it's not everything," Jennifer said. "But when all your stuff is gone, I hope I can be that person. Gratitude can change your outlook.”

Jennifer joined the Red Cross board after serving as a PTA president at her sons' school in Brentwood.  At that time, Jennifer said, she had no idea of the range of activities the Red Cross is involved in, including helping anyone displaced by a home fire. 

Once Jennifer learned more, "I just became invested in the success of the chapter," she said. In addition to serving as a board member and fundraising, she's helped install smoke alarms and encouraged other Red Cross donors to be trained disaster workers. 

"I hope that I can inspire more people to not only give money but to give their time," Jennifer said. "It can be intimidating to take the first step, but once you do, you can realize how awesome it is."

To find out how you can get involved as a volunteer with Red Cross go to RedCross.org.