A man from Pea Ridge is being honored as a Red Cross Hero for his work after the Joplin tornado.
"It was obvious that just donating money wasn't going to be enough."
Dave Cooper saw the devastation, and made a decision.
"To go that little extra step didn't really cost me a whole lot, when all those folks had lost so much."
He spent endless hours, every weekend, for months, making and delivering meals, distributing supplies, and cleaning up after the chaos.
"It's another thing entirely going and looking these people in the eye and having them cry with you over the fact that you're helping them pick up what's left of their lives... That's something that not only will I take with me until the day I die, I will continue to do it until the day I die."
A friend nominated Dave as a Red Cross Hero, and he will be honored on Saturday for his volunteer work.
"I'd do it again and again and again without any recognition whatsoever... It's what's in the heart."
While dealing with his own battle, Dave's friends said he defines humility and selflessness.
"I don't see the cerebral palsy that I live with as a struggle necessarily because I've lived with it all my life... While I'm still physically fit and mentally fit, if I can help somebody else I will."
So as he sees others as inspiring, Dave's loved ones look to him for inspiration.
"The most important thing to me is people taking care of people... You've made a difference in their lives, a positive difference, so take that with you always."
Dave will be honored June 23 at the American Red Cross Northwest Arkansas Celebration of Heroes event in Rogers.
"It was obvious that just donating money wasn't going to be enough."
Dave Cooper saw the devastation, and made a decision.
"To go that little extra step didn't really cost me a whole lot, when all those folks had lost so much."
He spent endless hours, every weekend, for months, making and delivering meals, distributing supplies, and cleaning up after the chaos.
"It's another thing entirely going and looking these people in the eye and having them cry with you over the fact that you're helping them pick up what's left of their lives... That's something that not only will I take with me until the day I die, I will continue to do it until the day I die."
A friend nominated Dave as a Red Cross Hero, and he will be honored on Saturday for his volunteer work.
"I'd do it again and again and again without any recognition whatsoever... It's what's in the heart."
While dealing with his own battle, Dave's friends said he defines humility and selflessness.
"I don't see the cerebral palsy that I live with as a struggle necessarily because I've lived with it all my life... While I'm still physically fit and mentally fit, if I can help somebody else I will."
So as he sees others as inspiring, Dave's loved ones look to him for inspiration.
"The most important thing to me is people taking care of people... You've made a difference in their lives, a positive difference, so take that with you always."
Dave will be honored June 23 at the American Red Cross Northwest Arkansas Celebration of Heroes event in Rogers.
