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With one hit over the head, Mike Burns went from general member of the public to Red Cross supporter.

An Amtrak Conductor of 18 years, Mike was struck at work by a train door that was jammed. The resulting head and neck injury, as well as two shoulder injuries, have kept Mike from his job on the trains for almost a year.

He couldn’t heft bags onto the trains, but he could write, use a clipboard and do light duty work. Through Amtrak’s transitional work program, Mike was loaned to an agency that needed help with light items, the American Red Cross.

Except for a call to the Red Cross for help as a member of the Armed Forces 30 years ago, Mike came to the Racine office with an open mind.

“I thought the only thing the Red Cross did was collect blood. They do a lot more,” he says with a smile. “I never thought about the small disasters in our community and who helped those people. Now I am finding out that small disasters are the big disasters for the Red Cross.”

As an office volunteer, Mike’s learning curve was steep as he answered phones and questions from visitors.

“As soon as I got there, I started reading and finding out more,” he says.

He found out the most common disaster in the United States is home fires, and Red Cross volunteers respond to every call that comes in. He learned that those responses, and all Red Cross work in the community, is supported by donations from members of the public.

The more he learned, the more Mike wanted to help. So he decided to use his time at the Red Cross to get an education and step into as many roles as he could while under his doctor’s care.

He started with the Disaster Action Team, and was soon responding to local fires. “My first fire was around the corner from my house,” he says. “Any time I am needed on the team, I take a shift.”

He couldn’t lift heavy items, but he could lift a clipboard and people’s spirits. “People are so grateful when I respond,” he says. “They are happy to see me.”

When flooding hit in the spring, Mike could deliver the flood clean up kits, inventory supplies and ensure the Red Cross was ready to help. He may be hurt, but Mike’s desire to help people in his community unexpectedly struck by small disasters outweighs any limits he may encounter.

“When I see a need, I try to fill it,” he says.

The American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin relies on donations of time and money so they can provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in Dodge, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties. To donate your time, please visit our Volunteer page. Financial donations can be made online through our secure contribution site.You can also support the Red Cross online by becoming a fan on our facebook page and following us on Twitter.