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Local Red Cross volunteer finds her ‘purpose’ in life

Dec 18, 2009

Editor’s Note: This is part of a series of stories featuring unique jobs in Jones County

Sue Pates lives a good life, one she wouldn’t change in any way. In her 70’s, she is healthy, materially secure, spiritually connected to her church and surrounded by a loving family and close friends.
At an age when most are enjoying leisurely pursuits, Pates says she’s not content to concentrate on herself. She is used to being busy, contributing somehow, someway. Sitting around doesn’t sit well with her.
“You can only sit around so long and watch so much television,” said Pates, a resident of Sandersville. “I didn’t want to sit on the couch all day. I wanted to have a purpose in life beyond taking care of my own needs.”
After retiring from a career at a garment factory, Pates found the “purpose” 14 years ago that has made her life infinitely more satisfying. Her church, Sandersville Baptist, held a training class in preparation for forming a disaster shelter. Through the course, Pates met officials from the Pine Belt Chapter of American Red Cross and learned they needed volunteers. Then and there, she knew what she was destined to do.
And now, she’s one of the million-plus who volunteer for the American Red Cross. Founded in 1881 to provide care to the victims of war, the American Red Cross then expanded to aid victims of devastating natural disasters.
Today, volunteers such as Pates and 30,000 employees annually mobilize relief to people affected by more than 67,000 disasters, train almost 12 million people in necessary medical skills and exchange more than a million emergency messages for U.S. military service personnel and their family members. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals nationally and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide.
Just a few weeks after taking her church’s course, Pates was put to work at the Red Cross’s Laurel office on Oak Street answering phones and assisting with mail-outs. While she enjoyed the work, she wanted to do more.
Pates now helps medical personnel set up for health fairs at large corporations and church and mans the booth throughout the day. She is also involved in “Granny’s Pantry Food Drives,” which provide needed food for senior citizens’ rest homes and other older residents who are struggling to put food on the table.
She laughs at the suggestion the title is near and dear to her heart, but agrees she enjoys helping others in her age group.
“I do like to feel I am helping older people who need extra food, whether they are living in a center or at home,” she said. “I meet a lot of nice people, including healthcare and Hospice workers and others who are involved in this drive.”
Typically, senior volunteers work two to three hours or half a day at most non-profit, reserving afternoons for their own pursuits.
On the days Pates volunteers at the Red Cross office or is out in the field, she typically comes in at 9 a.m. and doesn’t leave until 4 p.m. She feels staying the majority of the day provides a better service to the full-time staff. It also allows them to send her out on assignments that require several hours of time.
On a recent Friday, Pates was asked to sell hamburgers and hotdogs from inside “ERV,” the Red Cross’ Emergency Response Vehicle. The American Red Cross has always used Emergency Response Vehicles to aid rescue efforts in major disasters. The heavy-duty vehicles are primarily used as a way to offer food, drinks, and other supplies to people who need them.
Pates was sent out to help with a Red Cross fundraiser hosted by Southern Tire on Highway 11. Getting the food ready to cook and sell to passersby was a job Pates readily agreed to take on. Despite the long hours necessary to stock “ERV,” create the burgers and hot dogs on-site and then sell the food and beverages, Pates says she enjoyed the time she spent helping to raise money for her organization.
“It’s always fun to get out of the office and work a fundraiser,” she said. “You meet the nicest people everywhere you go. The companies who want to do something like this have only good intentions and those that buy the food are usually nice as well. It’s a good feeling to know I was able to help with this. I was a little disappointed the rain hurt our sales, though.”
Pates rolled back into the office around 2 p.m. If she had decided to wrap up her day, nobody would have questioned it; after all, she had been going non-stop since early morning.
But instead, Pates got back to work, preparing a stack of paperwork that needs to be processed on Monday for a Tuesday board of directors meeting. A few minutes into her work, she stopped to help prepare supplies for a Jones County couple that has just lost their home to a fire.
Gathering boxes of food, blankets and personal hygiene items, Pates helped present it to the grateful family that included two children. Just as she was about to leave for the day, a similar call came in, this time from a Louin family whose home had burned down. Pates gathered the same set of supplies for the family to pick up during the weekend.
Seeing families whose lives have been devastated from a fire or others loss is a tough, but inspirational part of the job, she says.
“You’re looking for something to give some meaning to you being here,” Pates said. “When you give something to someone who has nothing, you see how touched they are someone cares. When you get to be that person that give a little hope back to a family that has lost so much, it really does change you for the better.”
Pates doesn’t want any recognition for what she does; being allowed to serve as part of the Red Cross team more than makes up for the donation of her time. She credits executive director Peggy Owens-Mansfield for setting a positive example through her genuine spirit of caring for others. Pates also appreciates working in a professionally-run office.
“I like the fact the Red Cross has set hours and meaningful tasks for us to complete,” she said. “In that way, they treat us as if we are professionals and that’s something I like. I don’t think I would enjoy volunteering at a place that was unorganized or didn’t seem to appreciate my time.”
Pates’ service may have inspired the only multi-generational volunteer group in Jones County. Through her example, her daughters Susan and Shirley now volunteer for Red Cross, as well as Susan’s daughter and granddaughter. Setting an example for giving back to others has caused a ripple effect in her immediate family, which makes her proud, she says.
At 4 p.m., Pates gets up to leave, telling her co-workers, “I’ll see you on Monday.” She promises to get the board materials copied and put into packets for the following day’s meeting. She ends her week hoping she’s made a difference. Pates feels others would benefit from volunteering in ways that benefit others.
“I try to do the best I can when I’m here,” she says. “This does make you feel better about yourself. I believe others would get the same feeling of accomplishment I do when you spend your day thinking about others and not just yourself.”

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