Which organization do / did you volunteer with?
I volunteer with the New Hampshire Red Cross Emergency Services. I have been volunteering with them since 2008. In times of need, I have previously spent upwards of 40 hours a month volunteering with them!
What was your assignment?
In times of disaster, I served as a shelter manager overnight and on weekends, so that it did not conflict with my work schedule. As a shelter manager, I would oversee the operation in that shelter. I would check people in and out, organize volunteers, and staff and ensure everyone is comfortable, safe, and has a place to sleep. Other positions I’ve held with the American Red Cross throughout the last 16 years include; International Services Coordinator (Restore Family Links), Client Case Worker, Fund Raiser Accounting, and First Aid Event Coordinator.
Why did you choose this volunteering opportunity?
When I was 12 years old, my family first left Vietnam by boat in the Pacific Ocean in 1989. On the 3rd day, we were out of food. On the 5th day a Japanese ship saw us at sea and rescued our boat and brought us to the Philippines and we stayed at a temporary refugee camp for 10 months. We were later brought to Japan and the Japanese Red Cross took our group for a field trip and I learned all about the Red Cross. At that point, it was the 90’s, and the American Red Cross was highly regarded in Vietnam due to all of their help and assistance following the Vietnam war. I knew they had a strong reputation so I felt comfortable with them. In 1991 I came to the US as a refugee. Once I was able to establish myself and my family, I decided I wanted to give back to the Red Cross organization. In 2008 I joined and began volunteering. I was proud to volunteer with the American Red Cross, I found a lot of like-minded people who were kind hearted and liked to give back. These volunteers became like family.
What did you gain/learn from the experience?
I gained friendships. I felt a sense of community. I trusted all of the people I volunteered with and always felt the comradery. In 2013 I was the first New Hampshire recipient of the International Humanitarian Service Award. “The award recognizes an individual or group whose work exemplifies or inspires the humanitarian values of human dignity, respect, compassion and the protection and assistance implied in the Fundamental Principles of the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network.” Sean Penn received this the year before in 2012.
See her article on her International Humanitarian Service Award: https://nhredcross.wordpress.com/2013/11/08/volunteer-spotlight-local-volunteer-wins-red-cross-humanitarian-award/
Safran also featured Bao for National Volunteer Week.
****In addition to all of this – she sewed fabric masks for all Optics 1 employees during COVID in 2020, when masks could not be found.
