Judy Pevytoe Volunteers For the People She Helps

By Kassidy Ketron

Intern

Being part of the American Red Cross isn’t just a place for volunteer, Judy Pevytoe, to help people in a disaster. It gives her a purpose.

“I love the mission of the Red Cross,” the volunteer services events team coordinator said. “I love what it stands for and I love helping people. It makes me feel like I have purpose.”

Pevytoe has volunteered with the South Plains Regional chapter for about a year and a half, with about 4,000 volunteer hours under her belt.

She first learned about the Red Cross when we was out shopping.

“I was bored and wanted something to do,” Pevytoe said. “I happened to be out at the mall and Molly (Mabery, former volunteer specialist) had a table out there and I was talking to her and she made the Red Cross sound interesting.”

After she had a stroke in 2004, Pevytoe was spending time at home because she was disabled.

Despite her medical problems, she volunteers anywhere from 50 to 60 hours per week.

“We’ve had high school kids up here volunteering,” Pevytoe said, “all the way up to, the oldest couple I know that are volunteers are in their 70s. And then of course, like me, I’m disabled and I work up here, of course, healthy can, too.”

Last year, she was awarded the Golden Presidential Award and Rookie of the Year.

Anyone that is interested in volunteering, Pevytoe said can do anything from office work, service to the armed forces, teach CPR classes to disaster response.

“(I like Red Cross) because it is a good organization and without volunteers we wouldn’t be able to do what we do,” she said.

During her year and a half with the American Red Cross, Pevytoe said the disasters that stick out most to her are apartment fires.

“They’re so massive,” she said. “You know, when we have an apartment fire, we call everybody in and everybody just jumps in and does what needs to be done.”

Pevytoe said the most rewarding thing about volunteering is the gratitude victims of a disaster have.

“Most of the time you can see a relief and they’re real grateful that we’re there to help them with whatever we can help them with,” she said. “That look and to know that you’ve helped them (makes it worth it) and a lot of times you get a hug out of it.”

To join the American Red Cross South Plains Regional Chapter, visit redcross.org/volunteer and see how you can help.