Local Woman Nominated For 'Military Spouse Of The Year'
DETROIT (WWJ) - Elizabeth Snell, an employee with the American Red Cross in southeastern Michigan, has been recognized for her commitment to the military community with a nomination for Military Spouse of the Year, awarded by Military Spouse magazine.
Snell married her husband, a member of the Marine Corps, 10 years ago and has been actively involved in helping military families since. This includes being a leader in family readiness groups and serving as a quick assist loan caseworker with the Navy Marine Corps Relief Society.
After relocating to Detroit in 2009, an area without a military installation, Snell began volunteering with the American Red Cross. Eventually this volunteer work led to full-time employment, where she now serves as the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) and Volunteer Coordinator.
Snell enjoys her role with the Red Cross, finding it difficult to choose the best part of her job.
"I can't narrow it down to just one thing," she said, describing the great volunteers she works with and how rewarding it is to get positive feedback from families who have been helped by Red Cross emergency messages.
Along with helping to provide emergency communications, Snell also attends military-affiliated events to inform families of Red Cross services and has the difficult, but vital, task of reaching out to the families of service members who have lost their lives.
Her work on behalf of military families has also been recognized within the Red Cross, where she and a coworker were awarded the Madeline Vick Partnership Team Award in 2011. Along with her teammate, Snell helped organize Family Day events for service members and their families, participated in and helped coordinate a Stand Down event for homeless veterans, and took part in a recognition luncheon for SAF volunteers.
Snell and her family will relocate again later this year to Camp Pendleton, California. There she plans to continue her work with the military community, including addressing employment issues, a challenge that affects many military spouses.
