By Judith Weeks

Early in the COVID Pandemic, when the country came to a standstill, Corey Stradling volunteered for the Southeast Pennsylvania Red Cross. He had watched national media coverage of disasters with Red Cross volunteers wearing their vests, helping those who lost so much. He wanted to be a Red Cross volunteer! Today Corey volunteers for both the Southeast Pennsylvania Red Cross Region and the Central New Jersey Red Cross Chapter. Being from Bucks County and living in New Jersey he “straddles the Delaware River.”

Corey started by delivering Red Cross lifesaving blood products to hospitals. Having “loads of time” he took Red Cross classes online, drawing him to Mass Care and Disaster Response where he could help those affected and displaced by disasters. After completing required training and experience he took on the roles of DAT Supervisor, Regional Sheltering Lead, Bucks County Mass Care Lead, and Transportation Specialist.

Corey describes a recent experience when he was called to set up a shelter in Trenton for evacuation of seniors from a building near a gas leak. Returning home, he was again called out to two home fire events back-to-back to provide Red Cross assistance.

After Hurricane Ida Flooding, Corey was assigned Disaster Assessment in the Coatesville area. Arriving on the scene, he found himself standing in the middle of total devastation. Corey describes whole neighborhoods working together. Everyone was pitching in, helping one another remove their damaged belongings and cleaning up muck in their homes. “I watched a backhoe scraping up piles the debris into a construction dumpster.”  He remembers “neighbors helping neighbors.”

At the chaotic end of the Afghan War, Corey was with the Red Cross team at the Philadelphia airport receiving refugees after long hours of travel. Giving comfort, he offered each bottled water and snacks. He remembers they were very grateful. “They had everything they owned on their backs.”

During his spare time, this very busy volunteer is an avid bike rider, a recently certified scuba diver and a student of languages.  Before the pandemic, he was an actor in a local community theatre. Corey is studying Spanish in hopes of being better able to serve those needing Red Cross assistance and who do not speak English.

This exemplary volunteer is committed to the Red Cross. Corey enthusiastically said “I’ve met so many people in the Red Cross and made new friendships! Being part of a team, I have much more of an impact than I ever could on my own.”

Editor’s Note: We’ll be profiling outstanding Red Cross volunteers throughout National Volunteer Week April 17-23. Be sure to check back daily!