DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — The Illinois American Red Cross is looking for more volunteers to help with operations.
One local volunteer, Valentina Logan, has been with the organization since 2021.
"I was rather afloat with what to do with my life and I had also enjoyed volunteering as I could," Logan said. "This gave me the opportunity to do this as a semi-full time position."
Logan is now a Community Volunteer Leader, a board member, and is on the Disaster Action Team.
"Really they're the people that answer the phone call 24/7 that go out and respond to home fires," said Jayce Eustice, the Regional Communications Manager for the American Red Cross of Illinois. "When the weather does get colder we see a higher number of home fires and that means a higher number of people having to go out and respond to those fires to provide that immediate assistance."
Now Eustice and Logan are encouraging others to volunteer if they can.
"We're more of a family than we are volunteers," Logan said. "I think if you were fortunate enough in your lifetime to have a good life, it's up to you to pass that on. To pass the love on. And as you can see I give out free hugs. I've given and received thousands of hugs over the last few years."
If you're interested in learning more or volunteering, click here.
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