From bartender, to volunteer, to disaster services administrator for the Island County Chapter of the American Red Cross. Nobody can tell Mary Rose that her journey has not been interesting.

Rose began working in the part-time position in Oak Harbor on May 7. Hiring the long-time Red Cross volunteer has been a positive move that has given the chapter added stability, said Barbara Johnson, executive director.

“It’s a big deal for us,” she said.

Rose’s job duties entail ensuring that local teams are following national standards and are properly equipped, both physically and intellectually.

“My job is to make sure that each team has the members they need, the equipment they need, and the training,” she said.

An already overextended Johnson was previously doing Rose’s job.

“Barb juggles a lot of stuff,” Rose said. “She did health and safety, disaster services and her job. She’s amazing.”

Rose has continual contact with the national liaison office in Las Vegas, using their guidance to shape her work in Oak Harbor.

During her tenure thus far, Rose has been through several recent residence fires as well as severe windstorms.

“The teams responded very well to the emergencies,” she said. “They got the people what they needed at the time.”

The community has been generous and timely in helping families who have lost their possessions to fires. Rose had one suggestion for people who want to help community members in need.

“If you gather stuff, have a garage sale and then donate the money to the bank if there’s an account opened up,” she said. “Or you can even give it to the Red Cross and have it earmarked specifically for current or future disaster responses.”

Years of volunteering with the Red Cross and working as a health and safety instructor primed Rose for her current position. Although the route to the local Red Cross Chapter was circuitous, she landed where she feels she can best contribute.

“I was a bartender for over 12 years,” she said with a laugh. “Then I went to college. The job I’m doing now has nothing to do with the college I took. It’s really strange.”

Rose went through a divorce a couple years ago and is now a foster mom. Between the part-time position at the Red Cross and mothering, the disaster services administrator has a full plate.

“This job is rewarding,” she said. “I hate to see people suffer from fires and things like that, but the idea of helping them is very rewarding.”

Rose needs volunteers, volunteers and more volunteers to help with disaster services. Although some people perceive the specific volunteer work to be boring, the fulfillment felt at the peaks far outweighs the boredom associated with the valleys.

“In the long run it’s rewarding,” she said. “The most rewarding thing is when someone looks at you and says, ‘Thank you for being here.’ I tell you what, that’s what makes it all worthwhile.”

There are always fund-raisers, parades and other events in which volunteers can participate.

“The volunteers are the ones who come up with ideas on how to do things,” Rose said. “And any money that we raise goes to help disaster victims.”

For more information about volunteering, contact the local chapter at 360-257-2096 or email volunteer@islandredcross.org.