By Trish Wallace, as published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals .

Extensive flooding throughout the Midwest sent seven Jefferson County Red Cross volunteers to provide disaster relief this summer.

In July, Jefferson County Service Center Supervisor Omar Ruiz spent 21 days providing mass care in Kansas.

The southeastern portion of Kansas was affected by the northern edge of a tropical storm. From Kansas City, Kan., to the Kansas-Oklahoma border, 22 counties experienced flooding, and roads and homes were washed away. In Coffeyville, Kan., oil tanks overflowed due to the flooding, spilling crude oil, damaging the area and homes.

Ruiz oversaw the feeding process for flood victims, making sure he had the appropriate staff to accommodate those in need.

"It's the volunteers who make this work," Ruiz said.

Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles were equipped to take food and supplies directly to shelters and into flooded neighborhoods. The Red Cross teamed up with partner agencies to cook and prepare meals and snacks for flood victims. They set up a kitchen in one part of Coffeyville not affected by flooding.

According to Ruiz, volunteers served more than 32,000 meals and 66,000 snacks in Kansas.

Phyllis Hahn, of Barnhart, also volunteered in Kansas through the Red Cross and provided financial and statistical information by maintaining numbers.

In August, Ruiz spent 19 days serving victims of Mississippi River flooding in Minnesota by heading up bulk distribution. Ruiz said the river left a lot of mud behind when it receded. Most of the businesses in Rushford, Minn., were destroyed.

"Most of the homes had between a couple of inches to two or three feet of mud," Ruiz said. "There was a lot of devastation in that area."

Stockton, Minn., was also hit hard by flooding.

"It's going to be a long time for them to recover," Ruiz said.

Ruiz said that volunteers served 54,000 meals and 120,000 snacks in Minnesota.

Robert Vinluan, of Imperial, went with Ruiz to Minnesota and drove the Emergency Response Vehicles directly to flood victims. The vehicles can carry up to 600 meals. Charlie Meyer, of Arnold, also volunteered on the trip, providing disaster assessment to damaged properties.

"No money in the world can replace the feeling you get when you help people," Ruiz said.

That feeling is the reason Teena Kilo, of Festus, donates her time to serving the Red Cross. Kilo responded to tornado and flooding in northern Illinois.

Kilo first started volunteering with the Red Cross Sept. 11, six years ago. Since then, Kilo has served in disaster relief through eight national disasters, including tornadoes, hurricanes and floods.

"If I have three weeks to give, that's what I do," Kilo said.

This year, Kilo cooked food to distribute to victims in Rockford, Ill.

"That's very rewarding," she said.

Volunteers served two hot meals every day.

"It was really very good food," Kilo said.

One of the most touching experiences of the trip for Kilo came when several flood victims in the community arrived at the kitchen to cook and serve food.

"They wanted to help us help them," Kilo said.

Knowing she is helping people and making a difference is why Kilo continues to volunteer year after year.

"It's a great experience," she said. "It makes you feel so good."

Jim and Sheila Ulbrich, of St. Louis, volunteer through the Jefferson County Service Center and also donated their time in northern Illinois this summer.