When Bruce and Pam Travis receive word that Red Cross assistance is needed at a disaster, they don’t pause before springing into action.
For the couple, helping others is second nature, and providing that assistance through the American Red Cross is what they’re driven to do.
Bruce and Pam serve as local and national disaster relief volunteers for the Mid-Central Service Center of the American Red Cross in Shawnee. During their nearly 10 years of service, they have helped people across the country and in their own backyard who have been devastated by everything from fires to hurricanes to tornadoes.
“We get more out of volunteering with the Red Cross than we give. It is such a good feeling to know you’ve made a difference in people’s lives,” Pam said. “We thoroughly believe in the Red Cross mission of responding to emergencies and the training and support system are wonderful.”
In the Shawnee Red Cross service area of Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties, the couple serves on the Disaster Action Team. This all-volunteer group responds to house fires to assess the damage and provide financial assistance to help people get back on their feet. When they encounter a family watching their house burn and a young child crying at the loss of his toys, it’s especially poignant, Pam said.
“Each disaster we respond to is unique in its own way,” she said. “But there’s always satisfaction in helping people who are going through difficult times.”
Pam said they find the same reward when they’re deployed to state and national disasters. They’ve traveled with Emergency Response Vehicles, or ERVs, to hurricanes in Florida, operated shelters after ice storms, conducted damage assessment after Oklahoma tornadoes and much more.
Most recently, the couple traveled to Lone Grove, where they performed client casework — detailing the devastation people suffered to their homes and property when tornadoes ripped through the area Feb. 10.
“The Lone Grove experience was a little more difficult because there were so many people injured and who lost family members,” Pam said. “It was overwhelming to hear one sad story after another. It affects you — you just want to hug everybody.”
Pam also said they’ve been amazed at the resiliency of people they encounter at disaster scenes. When they offer food to someone who has lost everything, that person makes sure his neighbor is fed first.
Bruce said that, as Red Cross volunteers, they travel to a disaster scene expecting to do whatever the situation requires. Sometimes that includes serving food and scrubbing clean the containers and, at other times, it means canvassing the area in an ERV and sleeping inside it at night.
“You go in with an open mind and do whatever is asked of you,” he said. “It’s such a great feeling that you don’t mind doing it. You are accomplishing your mission of helping people.”
The Travises got involved with the Red Cross after being deeply affected by two Oklahoma tragedies: the Murrah Building bombing in 1995 and the May 3, 1999, tornadoes. Like many others, they wanted to help but felt like they didn’t have the proper training.
In 2000, they read information about Red Cross disaster classes and signed up – and they’re still being trained. The Red Cross offers an extensive lineup of disaster relief courses, from operating a shelter to mental health assistance to driving an ERV.
They encourage others to consider becoming Red Cross volunteers because of the opportunity to give people the hope and support they need to begin rebuilding their lives.
“Pam and Bruce are the epitome of a Red Cross volunteer – filled with compassion and a desire to help people when they’ve been devastated by disaster,” said Jake Peters, executive director of the Red Cross in Shawnee. “We would love for more people to join their ranks and become a part of the Red Cross mission.”
Pam and Bruce own Travis Jewelry and Gifts in Tecumseh, and their customers know that when a sign appears on the door, they are responding to someone in need. Instead of “Closed Until Monday,” the sign could read:
“Helping fulfill the Red Cross mission; Helping people rebuild their lives.”
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When Bruce and Pam Travis receive word that Red Cross assistance is needed at a disaster, they don’t pause before springing into action.
For the couple, helping others is second nature, and providing that assistance through the American Red Cross is what they’re driven to do.
Bruce and Pam serve as local and national disaster relief volunteers for the Mid-Central Service Center of the American Red Cross in Shawnee. During their nearly 10 years of service, they have helped people across the country and in their own backyard who have been devastated by everything from fires to hurricanes to tornadoes.
“We get more out of volunteering with the Red Cross than we give. It is such a good feeling to know you’ve made a difference in people’s lives,” Pam said. “We thoroughly believe in the Red Cross mission of responding to emergencies and the training and support system are wonderful.”
In the Shawnee Red Cross service area of Pottawatomie and Seminole Counties, the couple serves on the Disaster Action Team. This all-volunteer group responds to house fires to assess the damage and provide financial assistance to help people get back on their feet. When they encounter a family watching their house burn and a young child crying at the loss of his toys, it’s especially poignant, Pam said.
“Each disaster we respond to is unique in its own way,” she said. “But there’s always satisfaction in helping people who are going through difficult times.”
Pam said they find the same reward when they’re deployed to state and national disasters. They’ve traveled with Emergency Response Vehicles, or ERVs, to hurricanes in Florida, operated shelters after ice storms, conducted damage assessment after Oklahoma tornadoes and much more.
Most recently, the couple traveled to Lone Grove, where they performed client casework — detailing the devastation people suffered to their homes and property when tornadoes ripped through the area Feb. 10.
“The Lone Grove experience was a little more difficult because there were so many people injured and who lost family members,” Pam said. “It was overwhelming to hear one sad story after another. It affects you — you just want to hug everybody.”
Pam also said they’ve been amazed at the resiliency of people they encounter at disaster scenes. When they offer food to someone who has lost everything, that person makes sure his neighbor is fed first.
Bruce said that, as Red Cross volunteers, they travel to a disaster scene expecting to do whatever the situation requires. Sometimes that includes serving food and scrubbing clean the containers and, at other times, it means canvassing the area in an ERV and sleeping inside it at night.
“You go in with an open mind and do whatever is asked of you,” he said. “It’s such a great feeling that you don’t mind doing it. You are accomplishing your mission of helping people.”
The Travises got involved with the Red Cross after being deeply affected by two Oklahoma tragedies: the Murrah Building bombing in 1995 and the May 3, 1999, tornadoes. Like many others, they wanted to help but felt like they didn’t have the proper training.
In 2000, they read information about Red Cross disaster classes and signed up – and they’re still being trained. The Red Cross offers an extensive lineup of disaster relief courses, from operating a shelter to mental health assistance to driving an ERV.
They encourage others to consider becoming Red Cross volunteers because of the opportunity to give people the hope and support they need to begin rebuilding their lives.
“Pam and Bruce are the epitome of a Red Cross volunteer – filled with compassion and a desire to help people when they’ve been devastated by disaster,” said Jake Peters, executive director of the Red Cross in Shawnee. “We would love for more people to join their ranks and become a part of the Red Cross mission.”
Pam and Bruce own Travis Jewelry and Gifts in Tecumseh, and their customers know that when a sign appears on the door, they are responding to someone in need. Instead of “Closed Until Monday,” the sign could read:
“Helping fulfill the Red Cross mission; Helping people rebuild their lives.”
