RED CROSS VOLUNTEER OFFERS COMPASSION, AID TO VICTIMS

John Cutsinger has a deep-rooted understanding of the plight of the flood victims housed at the temporary Cape Central High School emergency Red Cross shelter.

"I've lived what they are going through," Cutsinger, 20, said. "It helps to talk to someone who has been through a fire or flood. It's a lot better than holding it inside."

As a Red Cross volunteer, Cutsinger works the midnight shift at the shelter, from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m. "It's lights out by 10 p.m., so I won't really get to talk to the people until the morning, but I know I can be of some help to these people."

He spent Friday morning learning what his duties would be at the Red Cross shelter. "I just came from Ste. Genevieve, where people are going through the same thing," he said. "Once you realize that people are pretty much the same no matter where you go, it gets down to personal experiences and how you deal with them. Having gone through this before, I have a sense of when to talk and when to listen."

Cutsinger decided to become a Red Cross volunteer in November. "The Red Cross helped me when my apartment in Cape Girardeau was in a fire," he said. He was involved in a flood while living in Liberty, Texas two years ago.

"It's a terrible feeling to lose everything you've worked for," Cutsinger said. "But I'm the kind of person who likes a challenge. That is what turned my life around."

A 1992 graduate of Sikeston High School, Cutsinger was able to meet the challenges he confronted while playing sports. But after he graduated, there was a void.

"I started getting down, then realized that I wasn't really getting anywhere. Something had to change." So he decided to channel his frustration into a positive experience. Volunteering for the Red Cross gave him the outlet he was looking for.

"It's a great feeling to know that you've done something for people who are going through the same thing that happened to you," he said. "This is my way of giving something back after someone else helped me."

Red Cross executive director Mary Burton admires people like Cutsinger. "Why would anyone want to become a volunteer in the first place?" she said. "It's got to be something inside that motivates you because it's certainly not for the glory. It takes a special person to be able to do this."

The experience of losing property during the flood that swept through Texas forced Cutsinger to realize he needed to move back to his roots. He finds living in a small time atmosphere more comfortable.

Burton said if it weren't for volunteers like Cutsinger, the Red Cross would be unable to maintain the shelter that houses flood victims. "We only have four full-time workers besides myself, so it takes a lot of people who care about others to pull this off," she said. "Believe me, there are a lot of people around here who care for their neighbors. They're showing it in little ways every day."

Said Cutsinger,"Once you realize that the same thing could happen to you, you begin to see how important it is for us all to come together to beat this thing. That's probably the biggest challenge right now."

Girl Scouts are also lending a helping hand at the shelter.

"They're going to be volunteering for day care duty," Burton said. "The work they do will help them earn badges. But beyond that, I think it's just a good experience for someone."