When it comes to delivering emergency messages to and from military Families and personnel, Fort Jackson Red Cross volunteers Annette Kallon and Linda Scorgie try to place themselves in the shoes of the people they're helping.
"It's not an easy job, to do what we are doing," Kallon said. "You have to have heart. Sometimes you can't prepare by what the book tells you to. I know this Soldier is not coming home, but (his or her Family) just lost someone, so that's when your human part comes in.
"I think about if this was me, 'How would I like to get the message?'" she asked.
While Kallon and Scorgie began volunteering on post last fall, neither of them are new to the Red Cross organization.
When Kallon's husband was stationed in Korea two years ago, she volunteered full time with the Red Cross until finding a part-time job and volunteering less frequent.
"(My co-workers in Korea) were like 'oh you're not coming back to volunteer," said Kallon. "And on my days off I was right there back at the Red Cross office. I think it's something I will continue to do."
Scorgie has spent a little over three decades working with the Red Cross and the military. She started her career in 1968 working at the hospital on Fort Jackson. Since then she's worked with the organization and troops in places all over the world, such as Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Italy.
Now that she's retired, Scorgie likes to keep busy doing the work she loves.
"I give back to the community. I give back to our Soldiers and their Families, who are the reason why we are so free as we are now," said Scorgie."When you retire you need to not be at home, but keep busy. I believe that the military is absolutely vital to the country and they do a tremendous
job."
For Kallon, volunteering has been a life-changing experience.
"Volunteering has been real helpful for me because before I was like 'work, get paid,'" she said. "But now, at the end of the day, I go home and I'm not making money -- but there is something I'm still getting something out of it. It's so fulfilling for me."
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