Sue Fuller: Red Cross volunteer

Randy Burns / The Item Sue Fuller, 57, moved to Sumter some 10 years ago when her husband, Marvin, was transferred to Shaw Air Force Base. She became a Red Cross Volunteer in 2005, not long after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.

Sue Fuller, 57, began working as a Red Cross Volunteer in 2005, not long after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast.

Sue and her husband, Marvin Fuller, moved to Sumter some 10 years ago when Marvin was transferred to Shaw Air Force Base. He is a 20-year veteran of the Air Force and was a communications specialist. He retired in 2005. He is a volunteer fireman with the Sumter Fire Department assigned to the Cherryvale station.

They have two sons: Greg, 33, and Robert, 29. They live in Omaha, Neb.

Sue was born and raised in a small town in Illinois – North Henderson – population 210. She said that she would not be able to volunteer for the Red Cross if it were not for the support of her husband.

"He is 100 percent behind me," she said. "Of course, he understands because he was a Red Cross volunteer himself when he was 17 years old.

1) WHY DO YOU VOLUNTEER WITH THE RED CROSS?
I like helping people. You know you always feel so bad for these people (disaster victims) – especially when they have children.

2) WHAT IS A COMMON MISCONCEPTION PEOPLE HAVE ABOUT RED CROSS?
Most people think Red Cross is just giving blood. Of course, I didn't realize myself what Red Cross does until Katrina. Red Cross is there to help people in any kind of disaster — thunderstorm, tornado, hurricane, fire, flood and ice or snow.

3) WHAT IS A TYPICAL WEEK FOR YOU AS A VOLUNTEER?
There is not a typical week. Every week is different. We might go two weeks without any kind of disaster. Then again, we could go two weeks with a fire every day. I also help out in the office. I enter all of the disaster information into the database. I usually volunteer anywhere from 10 to 40 hours a week. Most of the disasters we have in Sumter are fires. We make sure people have a place to stay for three days, and we give them money for food, clothing and personal items.

4) WHAT DO YOU DO FOR FUN?
I love quilting. And I am a big football fan. I love the Chicago Bears. And I love music – everything from Barry Manilow to the Oak Ridge Boys and Carrie Underwood.

5) WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE MOVIE OF ALL-TIME?
I have two favorites: Grease and the Wizard of Oz. I think I see Wizard of Oz about every year.



— Randy Burns