“Two brave little old ladies”

By Nikki Mayville, Red Cross Volunteer Writer

Volunteers Deb Wilson & Mozetta Mitchell

On Deb Wilson’s most recent Red Cross deployment, the former construction worker from Southern Maine acquired a reputation she’s quite fond of: “Two brave little old ladies in a van with a big red cross on it.”

The second lady was her deployment partner Mozetta Mitchell. Together these women would tackle hundreds of miles and comfort countless disaster survivors. 

Shortly after Hurricane Helene obliterated the Carolinas in September, Deb got the call to deploy. A friend and fellow Red Crosser contacted her about a need for volunteers in North Carolina. Deb stopped to consider. 

"It was a decision," she says. "They told me, 'This is right up your alley because people really need you down there.'"

And with that, Deb started making arrangements. This would mark her second Red Cross deployment. Her first was to Vermont in 2023 to help flooding victims. This time, however, she wanted a role that would get her directly into the affected communities. Fortunately, the Red Cross had just the position. Deb would join the team behind the wheel of a Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle – or ERV. These are the iconic Red Cross vehicles that deliver food, supplies and hope to people following disasters. 

After several hours of training, Deb was on a plane to Charlotte – and ready to hit the road. 

"[The ERV Manager] said to me, 'Are you afraid to drive by yourself? Have you ever driven an ERV before?'" 

The answer to both questions was "no," but a career in construction meant Deb was no stranger to large vehicles. 

Deb's sunrise route in Arden, NC

"He said, 'OK, here are your keys. There's your ERV,'" recalls Deb. It’s also when she met her ERV buddy. Mozetta was a Red Cross volunteer who travel from Michigan. They bonded also immediately. 

“Mozetta is awesome,” Deb said.

From sunrise to sunset, the pair were on the road navigating the needs of the storm-ravaged neighborhoods along their route. Their main role was picking up food donations from local restaurants and distributing them to various shelters in the area. Pickups and deliveries brought the women to restaurants, megachurch parking lots, partner facilities and shelters in North and South Carolina. 

Everywhere she went Deb was heartened to see communities coming together to help those in need. Donated supplies were coming in from all corners of the country to be distributed at shelters and churches. Mobile kitchens were set up in empty parking lots and served between 9,000 and 11,000 meals a day.

After one delivery, Deb reflects on a text message she received with a smile. It said: “Thank you and your team of angels so much! That was the best meal we’ve had in a week!!! Y’all are such a blessing to our community.”

Although Deb has spent years as a disaster responder, she says it doesn't make these deployments any less emotional. She recounted the night when they found a young woman crying by the side of the road. She was carrying her only remaining possessions in a few plastic bags. Deb did not hesitate to stop and help the woman find shelter.

"I didn't come all the way from Maine to sit around and take breaks," says Deb, when describing her early mornings and late nights. She and Mozetta worked tirelessly.

In between meal runs, they’d keep an ear to the ground, listening to the local community and learning about their greatest needs, which they’d then do their best to fulfill … like the time they heard of a particular shelter that was struggling to access supplies. Deb and Mozetta were able to resource and deliver medicine, trash bags, baby food, formula, diapers and feminine hygiene products to those in need.

All this good work didn’t go unnoticed. 

Deb says, “A Pastor in one of the towns we served talked about us in his Sunday sermon, calling us, ‘Two brave little old ladies in a van with a big red cross on it.’”

Deb Wilson

Now that she's home safe and sound, Deb is reflecting on her time in the Carolinas and all the people she met. 

"We didn't meet one person who wasn't grateful and supportive of our work. My Sundays have gotten a lot busier now." She jokes, "All the pastors and church organizers I met in my deployment are inviting me to their Sunday service." 

What’s next for Deb? Inspiring future Red Crossers! She’s already convinced a friend to become a Red Cross volunteer and deploy. She also plans to keep helping at home, where she serves on the her local Red Cross Disaster Action Team, providing care and comfort to her neighbors after home fires. 

People rely on our volunteers and donors for support 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Sometimes, this means supporting people after a home fire, providing lifesaving blood donations or assistance for military families. Help provide hope when it’s needed most by making a gift this holiday season: redcross.org/gift.