#MyStoryMonday: Delores Oberhausen

Delores Oberhausen is a friendly face who helps out in the fundraising department every Tuesday and Wednesday at the Louisville Area Chapter. Delores is very has many roles throughout the Louisville area. In addition to her work with fundraising, she holds various positions such as Administrative Assistant, Resource Development Volunteer, Louisville Area Special Events Volunteer, Regional Volunteer Services Screener, and a Disaster Workforce Responder.

Delores puts in many hours volunteering in these roles. You will also catch her at many of the big events she helps to plan and coordinate throughout the year, such as the Louisville Area Chapter's largest blood drive, Donorama, which is held every December. She also volunteers as a Blood Ambassador. Her many years of IT experience have proven to be vital to the Red Cross mission, and the Louisville Area Chapter just wouldn’t be the same without her. We would like to take the time and say thank you, Delores!

If you would like to find out more about joining the Red Cross as a volunteer, please visit www.redcross.org/volunteer

#MyStoryMonday: Bud Burson

Since joining the American Red Cross, Bud Burson has been an instrumental member of the Southern Indiana Disaster Action Team as a responder where he has personally touched the lives of over 65 families so far this year alone. Bud also helps out as a Louisville Area Special Event Volunteer and assists with each of the Home Fire Campaigns in the Kentuckiana area.

Bud has attended and helped run and operate some of the American Red Cross First Aid/Lost Child stations in Southern Indiana for Thunder Over Louisville and has recently been accepted into the Lead role for Disaster Cycle Services in Southern Indiana. 

If you would like to find out more about joining the Red Cross as a volunteer, please visit www.redcross.org/volunteer

#MyStoryMonday: Molly Mason

Kentucky native Mollie Mason was no stranger to volunteer work. While in the midst of the Civil War her mother taught her how to knit, and she remained a knitter up until her death. During an interview in 1917 with Elizabeth Hagan of the Ladies Home Journal, Mason claimed, "I've knitted my way through a lot of national crises since [the Civil War]." In attempts to keep soldiers warm with a little comfort from home, Mason joined forces with the Red Cross to knit cozy sweaters, numerous pairs of mittens and more.

In World War I (and still to this day) an important initiative to the Red Cross was knitting because it was something that was relatively easy to pick up and accessible to all ages. When Americans asked how they could help on the war effort on the home front the most common answer was "knit!" Thousands of citizens grabbed their knitting needles and made socks and sweaters to send to troops overseas.

"This was is going to end suddenly like the last one, but in the meantime I'm trying to keep our boys supplied with knitted things," Miss Mason said.

If you would like to find out more about joining the Red Cross as a volunteer, please visit www.redcross.org/volunteer

#MyStoryMonday: Jessica Evans

Being the institutional memory and organizer for the redeveloped Calloway County Community board, Jessica Evans is known as the organizational goddess. 

Jessica has spearheaded volunteer recognition on the community level. She works with Western Kentucky Chapter Executive Director, Evelyn Miller, in organizing new volunteer recruitment activities with Murray State University nonprofit fairs. She has worked with a Public Relations Class at the University to solicit a public relations and marketing plan for the community board and Western Kentucky Chapter. Jessica has also worked with board member John Wright to get two local government proclamations for Red Cross and the Home Fire Campaign program, which received local media attention. Thank you, Jessica!

If you would like to find out more about joining the Red Cross as a volunteer, please visit www.redcross.org/volunteer