Barry Burton’s wife Rhonda remarks often that he helps others more than he helps himself.
Rhonda, who handles shipping and receiving for the Little Rock office, is on to something here.
If a customer is down, Barry’s committed to fast-as-possible resolution. If a neighbor or church member needs to move, he offers both his trailer and his labor. If a natural disaster strikes somewhere in Louisiana or Mississippi or elsewhere, he’s on the next available ride down to render aid.
Barry embodies the spirit behind service over self. His concern for others certainly carries over in his work. But it extends beyond. As the Bishop for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Pinnacle Mountain Ward, he moves with the strong undercurrent that pulls him toward his next selfless act – the indispensable need to help others.
“It’s important for me to recognize that I am blessed with my situation. We haven’t lost our house. We haven’t been through a disaster. And I have the time and resources to help,” Barry said.
This drive comes from his faith. It comes from his kindness. And it sources from a unique sense of gratitude… perhaps his greatest gift of all.
He’s grateful for his career.
This January, Barry will celebrate his 10th anniversary as a technician at Datamax. He loves the company he works for. He loves that Service Manager Mark McKinney “goes to bat for us, and considers the needs of the service department.” He loves that “we’re not just a number.”
“Here at Datamax, we’re a living breathing person with things going on in our lives, and our leadership appreciates that. I love the fact that they support us in training and in parts. When I talk to other people at other jobs, I realize just how great we have it here,” Barry said.
He’s grateful for his mission.
Barry’s congregation partners with Crisis Cleanup, a collaborative disaster work order management platform that coordinates volunteer jobs and experiences after a hurricane or other natural disaster. it also sends Barry and others to the front lines of relief after a Hurricane.
Barry first went to New Orleans 16 years ago to help victims of Katrina. In the weeks that followed, he went four more times. He’s traveled back to Louisiana, Mississippi, or other disaster areas over the years to do anything from clear fallen trees, cut out drywall from homes, or help homeowners move appliances after they’ve been damaged by flooding.
“I’ve lived in this area for 30 years, so for me, when we go again (to help), it’s almost kind of routine. Once we arrive, we first go to our designated Command Center. From there, we get our work orders, and often you don’t see all the damage until you get closer to the actual site,” Barry said.
His most recent trip was following Hurricane Ida – the fifth most powerful storm to hit the US, and second-biggest to hit Louisiana. There were five weeks of assigned work for the group – and the numbers from their efforts are staggering.
- 11,800+ volunteers
- 302,170+ hours of donated work
- 5,517+ work orders (homes, churches) completed
- Volunteers came from across 8 states to help. Many traveled in excess of 8 hours one-way to serve.
Once on-site, Barry spends hours clearing trees at the victim's residence, as well as a number of tasks that may arise. But he also savors the opportunity to visit with the residents.
“We generally love to meet with the people there. They always express a lot of gratitude. For us, as members of the Church of Jesus Christ, it’s simply about ‘helping hands.’”
His gratitude is a gift.
When asked why Barry continuously offers himself – from moving day to disaster recovery – to those in need, he again recognized how blessed he is in his life. But then he offers what it means for him.
“When you help others, you benefit. It’s cathartic. It just makes us feel better – the more people sacrifice for others, the better they feel about humanity in general,” Barry offers.
And in the meantime, he’s prepared for that next call. He's grateful as he ever to hop back in that vehicle and head south one more time.
“There's always a need that comes up," Barry says. "I’m grateful to be in a position to be able to help. It’s just an ongoing undercurrent in my life. I just wait for the next time."
