Hometown Hero: Mark Cline volunteers 40 hours a week for disaster action team

CLEVELAND, OH (WOIO) - One of the things that's so great about "life in the land" is all the wonderful people who live here.

We've decided to feature some of those hometown heroes and bring you their incredible stories.

Thursday's hometown hero is Mark Cline, an award-winning volunteer who would rather give his time than chase a paycheck.

The retired airline baggage handler is a disabled person and an integral part of of the American Red Cross Northeast Ohio Region. He volunteers for the Disaster Action Team and is on-call 24/7, showing up to scenes and guiding people through turbulent times.

"Home fire, flood, C0 alarm, anything like that. we get a call through the office or the answering service and our teams dispatch to the family that's involved in that disaster, get through it," he says, describing some of the situations.

His manager says, Cline volunteers at least 40 hours a week and he's not sure what they would do without him.

"He very rarely says no to a situation when we have an emergency. I know I can lean on him to help me rally the volunteers during our bigger events and he gives 110% every day, all day," said Jeremy Bayer, Disaster Program Manager

We did some digging and found this essay Cline penned last year for the organization's blog: "Disability Doesn't Deter Disaster Services Volunteer."  Cline says, if he can do it, anyone can.

"There will be another disaster around the corner. I don't know when, I don't know what, I just know that I'll be part of a team responding to it. Tomorrow then, may be time for that rocking chair and sleeping in but today I've got things to do, places to go and people to see," he said.

American Red Cross is always looking for volunteers. Find out how you can help by clicking here.

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