Houston, Texas resident Joy Infantozzi
saw a need for volunteers in her community after severe storms caused massive
flooding across Texas during 2016 displacing hundreds from their homes and
causing several deaths.
A bi-lingual elementary school teacher, she found herself
free to volunteer for the Red Cross after moving from Dallas to
Houston, saying the timing was right for her to give back to the community.
Joy said she became familiar with Red Cross in 2010 when
her husband’s company had a partnership with the organization called Be Ready
When the Time Comes.
“I didn’t become an active volunteer until this year when I
saw a need because of all the flooding and signed up,” Joy said.
Since March, Joy has volunteered on four disaster
operations, currently deployed to the South Carolina. Arriving in Myrtle Beach
on Oct. 5, she will use her training in mass care, sheltering and as needed,
damage assessment, she said.
She said she volunteered to come to Myrtle Beach in response
to the threat of Hurricane Matthew because “everybody came to Texas to help us
out so it was my turn to repay the favor.”
“I really enjoy volunteering,” Joy said of her work
with the Red Cross. “The organization has such a wonderful mission. It is very
rewarding to see people that you can help or at least get a little smile on
their face after losing everything. Also, I’m just really proud to be in the
Red Cross.”
Photos/story by Angela Nicholas/American Red Cross
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