National Volunteer Week: Eastern Kentucky Chapter

As we come to the end of National Volunteer Week, we want to again express our gratitude to all of the volunteers from across our region who make our mission possible every day. Thank you all for your hard word and dedication! We hope these words have inspired you as you have inspired us!
 
Today we bring to you from the Eastern Kentucky Chapter:

BOBBY SULLIVAN, Pikeville. “I see hope shine through in the toughest of times. American Red Cross should be in every community.”

Bobby (right) with Debbie Ranier,
Executive Director of our Eastern Kentucky Chapter

Bobby certainly has been that ray of hope, as in the short time he’s been with the Red Cross he has been nothing short of amazing. Since March of 2018, Bobby has been a disaster team member, a member of the Regional Volunteer Steering Committee, and the Disability Integration Program Coordinator for the Eastern KY Chapter, as well as the Disability Integration Program Lead for the Region.


PAUL HELO, Ashland. “Susan and I joined the Red Cross to make a difference in people’s lives who are going through the worst times of their lives. This also applies to my Mental Health work, especially with those who have suffered the loss of loved ones, including animals. God has blessed us and we feel a responsibility to give back. Joy shared is doubled and sorrow shared is divided.”

Paul has spread his talents regionally, acting as the Disaster Mental Health Program Regional Lead as well as taking the Services to Armed Forces (SAF) Reconnection Workshop regionally. He has also fulfilled several roles on a local basis, including installing smoke alarms as a Home Fire Campaign member, teaching for the Pillowcase Project in area schools, and acting as a SAF Volunteer Partner.


LYNETTE ALLEN, Ashland. “This is the way I can help and serve those who need it most. I’ve fallen more and more in love with the Red Cross mission and its positive impact on others.”

As a Blood Donor Ambassador, Lynette has worked the majority of blood drives in the Ashland area since 2017. Her dedication to making sure patients in the hospital have lifesaving blood is inspiring. While working at the drives, she makes sure the donors feel welcome and the donors actually ask for her by name. Thank you, Lynette, for your extraordinary volunteer work with the Red Cross!

Our Red Cross volunteers are community heroes who give their time to help others. Join their ranks and be part of our lifesaving work! Visit redcross.org/volunteer to find an opportunity near you.

National Volunteer Week: Western Kentucky Chapter

During this National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we have been delivering some inspiration from volunteers across the Kentucky Region. Today, we bring to you from the Western Kentucky Chapter:

EVONNE HARL, Owensboro. "Red Cross means a lot to me in my life. I really enjoy getting to know people and helping those in need."

Evonne Harl (left) pictured with volunteer Brenda Doom-Sauvage

Evonne is a longtime Red Cross volunteer, having joined the Western KY Chapter in 2000. She is a full-time volunteer at the chapter in Owensboro, serving as an Administrative Assistant. Evonne is also the first one to raise her hand for meetings, classes and special events!


EUGENIO “GENO” ROSARIO, West Paducah. “I volunteer with the American Red Cross because I enjoy being with people and building lasting relationships. Oftentimes they become like lifelong family members. I love to see volunteers coming from all over the country working together with the same mind set: 'Helping our communities in distress'.” 

Geno has been a long time Red Crosser, starting as a CPR/AED/First Aid instructor while working as a firefighter, then joining our disaster team in 2012. He has deployed on many disaster responses and locally serves disaster action team member, instructor, and Emergency Management Agency Team member. He also assists with transporting blood products to area hospitals as a Blood Services McCracken County Transportation Specialist.


ALICE DAY ROSARIO, West Paducah. “Being a nurse with the Red Cross is what I’ve dreamed of doing since I was a child. When I saw the need, it fired my passion and I’ve never looked back.”

Another valued Western Kentucky volunteer, Alice wears several “hats” with the Red Cross, like her husband Geno! She holds the position of "Blood Services McCracken County Transportation Specialist – Navigator", ensuring that the area’s blood supply is moved efficiently to hospitals. She is also a disaster team member and has just joined the Disaster Mental Health team.

Our Red Cross volunteers are community heroes who give their time to help others. Join their ranks and be part of our lifesaving work! Visit redcross.org/volunteer to find an opportunity near you.

National Volunteer Week: Louisville Area Chapter

We’re halfway through National Volunteer Week! For Wednesday, we bring you some inspiration from the Louisville Area Chapter:

NATHAN FOSTER, Louisville. “I like helping people through teaching and enabling them to do their jobs better and more efficiently.”

Nathan has been a Red Crosser since he was a lifeguard and lifeguard trainer in college, eventually becoming a volunteer CPR/AED/First Aid instructor. His roles today are mainly “behind the scenes”, and he loves supporting the front line volunteers and staff through his vast knowledge in Information Technology. 

LINDA BECK, Louisville. “Years ago, we lost touch with my brother who was in Vietnam, and the Red Cross helped us make contact with him while he was hospitalized. Since that time, I planned and dreamed of helping in some way with this organization.” 

The opportunity finally presented itself with tornadoes in Oklahoma in 2013, and Linda became a Red Cross volunteer. Over the years, she has held positions in sheltering, casework, and disaster services, and presently is serving as the Direct Services Regional Program Lead, having found her true calling helping others through disaster recovery. She is not only a valuable asset to the Kentucky Region, but is frequently called upon by other regions to fulfill interim disaster positions.

Nathan (center right) and Linda (center left) participating
in the 2019 Shaken Fury earthquake preparedness exercise

CORDEN PORTER, Louisville. "The Red Cross gives me the opportunity to serve our community. I love the relationships I have made and especially love helping with Blood Services.” 

Corden is a long time Louisville Area Chapter Board member, an Executive Committee member, and also serves as the Chairman on the Diversity and Inclusion Committee. He is an avid blood donor and works tirelessly through his community and work contacts as a Resource Development volunteer.

Our Red Cross volunteers are community heroes who give their time to help others. Join their ranks and be part of our lifesaving work! Visit redcross.org/volunteer to find an opportunity near you.

National Volunteer Week: Bluegrass Area Chapter

Next in our Volunteer Week line up, we're recognizing just a few of the wonderful volunteers from our Bluegrass Area Chapter:

DEBRA “GRANNY” SMITH, Evarts. “Volunteering with the Red Cross is something I can do with my disability. I enjoy giving back.”

“Granny” Smith (far left), keeping it in the family!

Debra “Granny” Smith is an extremely active volunteer with Disaster Services, changing hats often in her roles. Debra is active with our disaster action team (DAT), which provides emotional support, financial assistance, and information to help families begin the process of recovery after disasters. She also volunteers with the Home Fire Campaign, Pillowcase Project and with workforce engagement. Most recently, she won a competition for completing the most online disaster training in the Bluegrass Area Chapter!


PRISCILLA JOHNSON, Lexington. “Volunteers don’t necessarily have the time; they just have the heart.”

Priscilla’s work with the Red Cross encompasses several lines of service, including resource development and Disaster Services as a disaster action team member. She is involved with the Pillowcase Project, a preparedness education program for grades 3-5 that teaches students about personal and family preparedness and safety skills, local hazards, and basic coping skills. She also acts as a Community Volunteer Leader in the Lexington and Frankfort areas.

DAN THIES, Columbia. "My reason for being a Disaster Cycle Services volunteer is that it gives me a sense of purpose to be a team member working with other dedicated Red Cross volunteers, assisting others and meeting the mission of the American Red Cross. It provides to me a great sense of satisfaction to see the positive results of our immediate assistance to our clients."

Dan (rear right) accepting his Clara Barton Award in 2019

Dan is a treasured disaster volunteer for the Bluegrass Area Chapter. He is an extremely active disaster team member, and an active participant with the Home Fire Campaign, Pillowcase Project, and recovery team. Last year he was awarded the Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership.

Our Red Cross volunteers are community heroes who give their time to help others. Join their ranks and be part of our lifesaving work! Visit redcross.org/volunteer to find an opportunity near you.

National Volunteer Week: South Central Kentucky Chapter

The Kentucky Region of the American Red Cross is a brighter place because of our treasured volunteers! During this National Volunteer Appreciation Week, we want to deliver some inspiration directly from some of our volunteers, who were randomly chosen from their Chapter and line of service.

To start off the week, we bring to you from our South Central Kentucky Chapter:

RICHARD PETERS, Glendale. “I used to be a firefighter, so I was familiar with the Red Cross. When I left the fire department, this felt like the right move to keep connected with my community.” 

Richard is a very active Disaster Action Team (DAT) member. During this COVID-19 crisis, Richard stepped up to help out at the local blood drives in Hardin and LaRue counties as a Blood Donor Screener and Ambassador. Richard also maintains the fleet vehicles in Hardin County and maintains the lawn around the building. 

MELISSA BERGMAN, Guston. “Red Cross helped my family in 1995 when we were affected by a tornado in New York. Now I can give back to my community and the soldiers and veterans (like myself and my husband) in Kentucky.” 

Melissa wears many hats in the Red Cross, including lead positions in Volunteer Connection and Volunteer Engagement for Service to the Armed Forces (SAF), as a SAF Caseworker, Fort Knox Advisory Board Member and Volunteer Services Screener, among others.


BILL HARGAN, Greensburg. “I have a servant’s heart, I like serving people. Many years ago, we suffered a small house fire so I see and appreciate every day how Red Cross helps those in need.” 

Bill has volunteered for the Red Cross for many years. He first brought Red Cross CPR/AED/First Aid training courses to Fruit of the Loom while employed there (and currently trains Red Cross volunteers), then ventured into Disaster Cycle Services in 1998. He currently sits on the South Central Kentucky Chapter Board, is an active member of the DAT team as well as the volunteer partner for the South Central Kentucky Chapter's disaster program manager, Jason Dotson, and plays several other important roles for the chapter.

Our Red Cross volunteers are community heroes who give their time to help others. Join their ranks and be part of our lifesaving work! Visit redcross.org/volunteer to find an opportunity near you.