Red Cross Staffer Will Assist Veterans

The American Red Cross is pleased to announce the recent hire of Estella Heard in the position of Service to Armed Forces Coordinator (AmeriCorps VISTA) in Northeast Mississippi. Previously, Heard was volunteering as an office assistant for the Northeast Mississippi Chapter-Columbus Office.

“With Estella already having a tie to Red Cross as a volunteer, she brings an understanding of Red Cross, a wealth of passion and care to this position.” said Leslie Pitre, Services to Armed Forces Manager.

AmeriCorps VISTA is the national service program designed specifically to fight poverty. Authorized in 1964 and founded as Volunteers in Service to America in 1965, VISTA was incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993.  VISTA has been on the front lines in the fight against poverty in America for more than 45 years. VISTA members commit to serve full-time for a year at a nonprofit organization or local government agency, working to fight illiteracy, improve health services, create businesses, strengthen community groups, and much more. With passion, commitment, and hard work, members create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty.

Heard said, “I enjoyed my volunteer time with the Red Cross so much that now I’m working with Services to the Armed Forces, it gives me an opportunity to directly help military members and their families who are serving our country.”

Heard will assist with Services to Armed Forces for Northeast Mississippi. She will identify all branches of the military in MS, their locations and points of contact for outreach activities and joint event participation including military hospitals, guard and reserve units.  Also, she will build community SAF volunteer/networks to provide and increase services to Veterans; identify all resources in MS for Veterans, their locations and point of contacts for outreach, partnership and mutually beneficial activities.