Red Cross Volunteer Exemplifies Dedication to the Mission

By Laura McGuire, American Red Cross

This April during National Volunteer Month, we’re shining a light on the people who inspire us to serve, recognizing their work, and thanking them for lending their time, talent, and voice to making a difference in their communities.

Chris Huston is one of our amazing volunteers for the American Red Cross of Wisconsin Northcentral chapter. Huston first got involved with the Red Cross in 1995 after his family lost their home in a fire. He saw the Red Cross mission in action providing comfort, care and help to his family and it inspired him to volunteer.

“I’ll help in any way I can,” said Huston.

Huston is a disaster workforce engagement volunteer. He helps to manage a field team to secure buildings for shelters, headquarters and warehouses and he is usually one of the first volunteers called after a disaster, many times only given 24 hours to prepare to deploy. His roles have taken him from Maine to Maui with disasters such as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes and wildfires.

“I have deployed nationally five to seven times a year for the last seven years,” said Huston.” In total Huston has deployed about 50 times, and he has seen many places and faces in need of help. He has Red Cross friends all across the country and is delighted when someone asks for him by name.

In 2020 right before COVID, he had his lower leg amputated but that didn’t stop Huston. “I told my prosthetic doctor that I had to be walking by May so I could continue working in the field,” said Huston.

Huston has other health challenges, but his tenacious nature will not allow him to give up volunteering for the Red Cross. His current position has been transitioned to a virtual role allowing him to work from home, answer calls, work with new volunteers and still work as a deployment officer and advanced training instructor. “I am grateful for the last seven years with the Red Cross because of all the things I have accomplished,” said Huston.

If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer, learn more about the open opportunities near you by visiting www.redcross.org/local/wisconsin/volunteer.