Erin Deery week 1

Hey I'm Erin, and I'm very excited to begin this journey with all of you. For those of you who don't know me, I'm a rising sophomore from Winter Park, Florida (just North of downtown Orlando). Growing up in a newer city sprinkled with lakefront properties, golf resorts, and Disney magic, moving to Memphis was a big step for me. Basically all I knew about Memphis when I first arrived came from my Nana's stories of her yearly pilgrimages to Graceland and the events I'd read about in history books. But those preconceptions quickly grew into an appreciation for this gritty city that seems to evolve into a sense of home each day I spend here.

I am thrilled to get to know this place even better this summer by serving the community around us. I am doing my fellowship at the Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross. As the largest chapter in Tennessee, we are responsible for disaster relief, aid to Military families, health and safety preparedness, and blood donation for not only Memphis, but 10 surrounding counties in Tennessee, Arkansas, and Mississippi. I decided to get involved with the Red Cross because of the great impact I'd seen them have on my hometown (hurricane season can be rough), the prospect of impacting peoples lives when they are in their greatest times of need, and the fact that the Red Cross is an internationally acclaimed organization that has a place for volunteers of all ages, skill sets, and walks of life. 

I've been volunteering at this chapter since the end of first semester last year, so this summer I am both continuing my previous work and expanding my responsibilities. Previously, I was working in disaster relief and preparedness services by helping teach classes to volunteers who are becoming members of Red Cross Shelter Teams, the groups that serve when a disaster hits and people are misplaced from their homes. These Red Cross teams provide shelter and basic resources to people in need. Along with Shelter Team Education, I am really diving into Volunteer Services this summer. I am part of a recruitment team that works to bring in volunteers to all aspects of the Red Cross, especially DAT (disaster action teams). This includes going into the community and talking about the Red Cross mission, interviewing prospective volunteers, and on-boarding new volunteers into computer systems so that volunteers can be placed where they are most needed and best suited. 

The concept of service for me has changed from a kind of duty or moral obligation pitched to me by my parents, my church, or my school into a transformative experience for others that I can help, for the community that is impacted, and for my own perceptions of the world. Service is using your personal skills to aid those who may not share those same talents to make that relationship and the surrounding community better. Services is so much more than doing activities that seem like the "right" thing to do. Service should be greeted with open arms, a positive attitude, and a selfless mindset. If there is anything I've learned just in this first week, it is that service isn't simple and service doesn't stop. There are so many layers of people that have to work together to accomplish greater goals to improve a community. There will always be another flood, another financially unstable military family, another call for blood donation. It's continually answering this call with enthusiasm that can truly shape a community for better.

Hope everyone had a great first week! Can't wait to continue serving, discussing, and doing Memphis with all of you this summer!