Volunteers are heart of the American Red Cross. Without them we cannot respond to disasters, teach CPR and first aid, support our holiday programs such as Letters to Santa and the Marine Corp Reserves' Toys for Tots Program, or even raise the funds necessary to provide our programs and services to our communities.

At the Greater Edisto Chapter, we have only one staff person for every 100 volunteers. I am writing today to encourage everyone to volunteer. No time? Ask yourself who will help when I need help? It will be a volunteer who found a little time to help in his or her community. You can even have your volunteer experience be part of finding quality time with your children. Volunteer as a family.

I would like to share with you a few scenarios and if any one of them touches your heart or encourages you to want to make a difference, then please consider volunteering at your local Red Cross chapter.

* A local family of four left home one Saturday afternoon to do a little shopping. They were having fun, enjoying the day not having any idea what lay ahead for them. As they were returning home, they noticed smoke rising in the sky and became aware that the smoke was coming from the direction of their home. Their worst nightmare came true. As they rounded the corner, they saw their home engulfed in flames. Everything they owned but the clothes they were wearing was gone. They didn't even know where they would sleep that night. What are they going to do now? Who will help?

* It's Christmas Eve and a child is anxiously anticipating a visit from Santa. He just knows Santa is coming and will bring something he has wanted all his baby life. After all, he's seen it on TV, and it's in all the stories he has read, Santa comes to children who have been good, and this little boy had been very good. He wakes up Christmas morning and runs into the living room, but to his surprise all he finds is his mother crying. She says Santa couldn't find our house last night. The little boy tries to be brave, but he begins to cry. He doesn't understand how Santa could not find his house. Why didn't he try harder? Who will help make a difference in the life of this child and many like him?

* A son is serving in Iraq. He is a member of our armed forces. A career in the military is what he has dreamed of since he took his first ROTC class. At home, his dad becomes gravely ill. He is able to come home for a couple of weeks on emergency leave, but he is worried his mother has three other children to look after and she must care for her husband. What will his family do once he has to go back? Who will help them?

* She is 80 years old, worked hard for most of her life. She never expected to have to worry about whether she could eat or have electricity. What a choice. Who can she turn to for help?

* She was only 16 but she wanted to learn first aid and CPR. She never expected to use what she learned. Then one night while watching TV, she notices her dad rubbing his arm and shoulder and that he is perspiring a little. She remembers the class she took and believes her dad might be having a heart attack. She calls 911 and tells her dad everything's going to be OK. She saved her dad's life. Do you know what to do in an emergency?

Who will help? The Red Cross will help? Who is the Red Cross? You, me, your family, neighbors, co-workers and other people who care.

These are only a few of the scenarios I can share with you. I hope I have peaked your interest and you want to find out more about your Red Cross because we need you, and your community needs you. If you would like to volunteer, please call 534-5735 or e-mail cbs1008@aol.com and on the memo line write I would like to volunteer. Thank you.

Cindy B. Smith is executive director of the Greater Edisto Chapter of the American Red Cross.

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