Volunteer Spotlight: Darleen Keenen

We love our volunteers here at the Red Cross. Without them, our mission would not be possible!

To begin our very first weekly Volunteer Spotlight we will be highlighting Darleen Keenen.

Darleen signed up to be a Red Cross volunteer in October of 2011 after retiring from the Navy, and now she is an active volunteer here at the Red Cross, Charleston, SC Region. She volunteers on Wednesday mornings at our front desk on Rivers Avenue. If you call our offices on Wednesday mornings, chances are the first person you’ll talk to is Darleen! Darleen is one of our many dedicated volunteers here at the Red Cross – she is not afraid to be awoken by a late night phone call to respond to whatever may be thrown her way.

“There are many opportunities to help in different areas, and I learned more after attending the New Volunteer Orientation: Disaster Services. They will work with whatever skills you have.” Darleen is now certified as an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) driver, and has taken our Red Cross Food and Sheltering classes as well as the Client/Casework class.

Darlene’s advice: “Just jump right in. Don’t worry about not knowing what to do. Your Red Cross family is here to help you to succeed. Your Red Cross seasoned staff and volunteers will never ‘throw you to the wolves’ because you, as a volunteer, are there to help and learn how to become a better volunteer”.

We here at the Red Cross appreciate you Darleen and we are so lucky to have you with us.