Good Samaritan: John Schulte impacts community through smoke detectors, natural disaster response

Julie Smith/News Tribune
John Schulte has been recognized for his service with the American Red Cross. He’s been deployed multiple times to help in disaster areas, including right here in Jefferson City after the May 2019 tornado.
Julie Smith/News Tribune John Schulte has been recognized for his service with the American Red Cross. He’s been deployed multiple times to help in disaster areas, including right here in Jefferson City after the May 2019 tornado.

Between providing free smoke detectors and setting up shelters for those who lost their homes during natural disasters, it's hard to say how many lives John Schulte has touched over the last few years with the American Red Cross of Central and Northern Missouri.

Schulte received the inaugural Helen L. Fisher and John G. Fisher Good Samaritan Award - also known as the Fisher Family Good Samaritan Award. Redemption Inside the Walls and News Tribune partnered this year to select five "good Samaritans" who have gone above and beyond to help the Mid-Missouri area.

Schulte has overseen the American Red Cross Central and Northern Missouri's Home Fire Campaign for three years. Through the Home Fire Campaign, volunteers install free smoke alarms in homes, primarily for elderly and low-income individuals.

"It's very rewarding because you're playing a small role in a much larger organizational drive to help people when they're in the most need, and that's a neat act to play," the Jefferson City native said.

Anyone can request a smoke detector, he added.

The local American Red Cross installed more than 800 smoke detectors in its region last year.

This year the organization has installed 400-500, but the program has been on hold since spring due to the coronavirus pandemic, Schulte said. The "Sound the Alarm" campaign in late April and early May, when volunteers and firefighters go into neighborhoods to check and install smoke detectors, was also paused.

"When the green light is going, we'll be out there," he said.

Along with overseeing that program, Schulte also regularly meets with survivors of house fires to provide comfort and resources. When an early morning fire destroyed Holts Summit apartments and displaced dozens of people in January 2019, Schulte was on scene to help coordinate the shelter and supplies.

"Sometimes it's a little intimidating because you get the call of a fire 10 miles outside of town and you don't know what you're getting into, but I have experience in my previous life working at the hospital setting for disaster and emergency situations," said Schulte, who retired from SSM Health St. Mary's Hospital and Atkins Building Services.

"It feels good you're in a position to help people."

After several Jefferson City residents lost their homes in flash flooding earlier this year, Schulte helped arrange hotel rooms for them.

When the May 2019 tornado struck Jefferson City, Schulte was one of the American Red Cross volunteers who hit the ground running, managing a shelter at Thomas Jefferson Middle School. He also helped organize donations, and he said the community donated so many supplies the local American Red Cross chapter had to get a semi-trailer to store donated goods.

Schulte had been deployed to natural disasters in other states, like Florida and North Carolina, but he didn't expect to be deployed to one in his hometown.

"It was more of an emotional toll because you're driving through the areas you grew up in and you know there's a lot of suffering and you're aware of people that have been affected by it," he said. "But one of the benefits is you have a lot better contacts to get things done."

Schulte said he was honored to receive this year's Good Samaritan Award.

"It's not something I expect," he said. "I think everybody has a responsibility to help others. That's what we're here for. I accepted it in the name of folks who shaped me, whether it was my former employer - St. Mary's - and my mom, Evangeline Ruth."

The other four Fisher Family Good Samaritan Award recipients are Victor Bell, Jody Delgado, Kyle Kittrell and Hannah Frevert.

Also part of this series:

Unsung heroes honored, Michael W. Smith performs at Redemption Inside the Walls

Good Samaritan: Jody Delgado supports military through personalized care packages

Good Samaritan: Hannah Frevert leads through literacy, educational organizations

Good Samaritan: Kyle Kittrell builds new beginnings through Habitat for Humanity

Good Samaritan: Helias coach, teacher Victor Bell leads by example