Changed By 9/11: Robert Pollack, Disaster Action Team Volunteer

With 20 years of volunteer work under his belt, Syosset resident Robert Pollack has already made his mark as a long-time, active volunteer for the Red Cross and the Heart Association. The tragic events of 9/11 only pushed him to be more involved, more active.

“It’s the old, corny cliché: You have to give back. You have to do something for society,” Pollack said.

After being a member of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team for about 15 years, the 68-year-old now serves as co-captain.

“If there’s a fire, we go out and offer assistance to what we now call clients," he said. "We put them up in a hotel for a day or so and make arrangements for them to get some food and clothing until they can get to their insurance company or social services."

Although the job occasionally calls for him to fly out of the house in the middle of the night—with little to no sleep—it’s all part of the giving back process.

“It’s people helping people,” he said.

In addition, Pollack is also a shelter manager for the Red Cross. In the case of another attack, a hurricane or flooding, Pollack and his team are trained to help hundreds, if not thousands, of people who are without a home temporarily.

On top of his volunteer work, Pollack teaches microbiology, anatomy and physiology at Nassau Community College. He also teaches several different kinds of first aid and CPR courses through North Shore University Hospital.