Volunteer Profile: Michael Heyert

The #Lucky 13 installed nearly 400 smoke alarms in one day in Nyack!
Michael is fifth from right in rear row.

Michael Heyert is the Volunteer Lead for the Home Fire Campaign at the Metro New York North Red Cross Chapter. He works closely with Maritza Espinoza, Disaster Program Manager, and John Cascone, Sr. Disaster Program Manager.

Located in Greenwich, CT, the Metro North Chapter serves 1.8 million people in Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan and Westchester Counties as well as the towen of Greenwich, CT.

Michael has been volunteering with the Red Cross since 2014, working in Logistics where he helped maintain the necessary program inventory, and transported equipment, supplies and team members to installation sites. Last August, he became Volunteer Lead for the Home Fire Campaign. As Volunteer Lead, he oversees a team of about 50 volunteers whom he can call upon to canvas neighborhoods and obtain requests for smoke alarm installations, install smoke alarms and provide fire prevention information to residents.

Says Michael, “Equally as important as the actual installation of smoke alarms is the preventative function we provide by teaching residents how to prevent fires in the first place. We put a lot of emphasis on the importance of education.”

Michael has been deployed twice, once to flooding in Louisiana in 2016 when he drove an ERV to the Baton Rouge area and served as a Shelter Manager for two weeks. He was also deployed to Houston last year after Hurricane Harvey.

Recently, Michael oversaw a team of 13 volunteers (dubbed the #Lucky 13) in Nyack, N.Y., where they installed nearly 400 smoke alarms in 190 apartments in one day!

“Volunteering for the Red Cross Home Fire Prevention Campaign is a great feeling! Not only are you likely to save lives but it’s fun working as part of a dedicated team,” said Michael. “If you are thinking of volunteering, do it! Don’t be leery! It’s not complicated or hard work. And you’ll feel great doing something meaningful to help your neighbors.”

Thanks, Michael, for all you’ve done and continue to do to save lives from home fires.

Join us this Spring to Sound the Alarm. Save a Life. and help #EndHomeFires.

New Volunteers: Visit SoundtheAlarm.org to sign up today!

Existing Volunteers: Sign up on Volunteer Connection!