Sleeves up. Hearts Open. All In.

By Mimi Teller

In 1994, Yvonne Lambertson’s home burnt to the ground. With an 18-month-old on one hip and a three-month-old on the other, Yvonne’s most vivid memory was the American Red Cross driving up to her burning home not long after the fire department arrived.  

“The Red Cross made sure we had a safe place to stay, and financial assistance to buy clothing and personal care items,” shared Yvonne. “It was amazing how quickly they showed up and how they took care of us.” 

 

Fast forward to the Midwest and Southern tornado disaster of December 2021: As a Red Cross volunteer from Nebraska, Yvonne deployed over the Christmas holidays leaving her six kids, and eight grandchildren to join nearly 500 of her Red Cross peers from across the U.S.  

 

“I know what it’s like to lose everything” reflected Yvonne, “This is where I’m needed right now.”  

 

Yvonne joined the Red Cross in August 2020, and quickly achieved certifications in multiple group activity positions, including Disaster Response, Client Casework, Mass Care Feeding and Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) driver. Emerging from a difficult time in her life, Yvonne looked for a community of like-minded people doing good things, and for Yvonne, her newly extended family became the Red Cross.  

 

Since joining, Yvonne has deployed in person as a disaster responder to the California wildfires, Tennessee flooding, and most recently, the tornado response in Western Kentucky. As one of a few dozen Feeding and ERV volunteers for the tornado response, Yvonne went out into devastated communities every day, distributing up to 300 hot lunches to those affected by the disaster. Yvonne made sure everyone she spoke with knew the Red Cross was in town to aid and made sure everyone who needed aid knew how to reach the Red Cross.   

 

Yvonne’s Kentucky outreach went beyond her scheduled volunteer hours. While off-duty and dining at a local Waffle House restaurant, Yvonne learned that one of their server's home was destroyed by the tornadoes and was unaware of the support offered by the Red Cross. Yvonne made sure the restaurant’s employee had all the information she needed to seek Red Cross help.   

 

“I’ve met some of the greatest people at the Red Cross and in the communities where we work,” Yvonne recollected, “When I deploy to a disaster, I might arrive in a new town not knowing anyone, but when I go back home, I have new friends for life.”  

 

It’s evident Yvonne carries her Red Cross service close to her heart, but she went one step further and tattooed “Red Cross Disaster Services” on her arm, taking the Red Cross motto: “Sleeves Up, Hearts Open, All In” to the next level. 

 

If you or someone you know has been affected by disaster, contact the Red Cross at 1-800-RED-CROSS, or 1-800- 733-2767.

Red Cross Recovery Assistance

Updated 1/19/2022

The American Red Cross continues to provide comfort and care for those affected by the 2021 December tornado outbreak. The Red Cross is actively providing emergency assistance to residents whose homes were severely impacted.

Red Cross has established multiple Community Outreach Centers throughout Western Kentucky, as well as multiple mobile community outreach teams, where caseworkers are available to connect one-on-one with people to create individualized recovery plans, navigate paperwork and locate help from other agencies.

This page will serve as the most up-to-date information about where you can come to the Red Cross for recovery assistance. Other announcements about locations will be forthcoming. 

Community Outreach Center Locations

Bowling Green

Address: Old Sears Building, 2625 Scottsville Rd., Bowling Green, KY 42104

Hours of Operation:

• 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Mayfield

Address: Christ United Methodist Church, 1322 West Broadway, Mayfield, KY 42066

Hours of Operation

• 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m.

If you are unable to attend, you may call 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767).

With the help of partners, as of 1/9/2022, the Red Cross in Kentucky has served more than, we’ve served more than 73,000 meals and snacks, distributed more than 41,000 relief items, and provided over 9,700 individual care contacts to help people with medical or disability needs, as well as emotional and spiritual support.

Red Cross Volunteer Trainings Available

The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action. We are so thankful for the Red Cross workers who have been working around the clock since the devastating tornadoes impacted much of Western KY on Dec. 11. If you would like to become a volunteer, please see some upcoming trainings taking place this week in Calvert City. Trainings will be held at Calvert City Fire Training Center 215 N. Alabama St Calvert City, KY 42029 and virtually for remote attendees. Read further for class schedule.

Available trainings:
 
Combination Class: Disaster Cycle Services Overview and Everyone is Welcome
Monday, December 27th, 1:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. and Wednesday, December 29th, 9:30 a.m. to 1p.m.

Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview – This course is the first in the Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) course curriculum. It provides an overview of how DCS fulfills the Red Cross mission and describes the whole cycle process of helping individuals, families and communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. The course also reviews the role of community and government partners and describes opportunities for volunteers in Disaster Cycle Services.

Everyone is Welcome – Everyone is Welcome is a basic instructor-led and web-based course that informs the learner about the Red Cross commitment to excellent service delivery to individuals with access and functional needs, including those with disabilities by inclusion and integration of their varied needs before, during and after disasters. This course also provides tips for providing services to individuals with access and functional needs, including those with disabilities
Sign up to participate - https://forms.office.com/r/yyWnnVwntB

Disaster Action Team Fundamentals - Wednesday, December 29th, 1 p.m.  –  5 p.m.

Disaster Action Team Fundamentals is a basic level, web-based or instructor-led training that provides instructions to current, new and potential Disaster Action Team (DAT) members on how to perform tasks and key job duties as described by the Disaster Action Team Program Standards and Procedures.
Sign up to participate - https://forms.office.com/r/Ri2HcAWibq

Collaborating Essentials Tuesday, December 28th 9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Collaborating Essentials is a basic level, instructor-led course designed to promote and support collaboration at the Red Cross. Participants will engage in discussions and scenarios to determine the different skills and behaviors required for building and maintaining internal and external relationships. The course emphasizes the role that collaboration plays in the successful delivery of disaster services.
Sign up to participate - https://forms.office.com/r/R8Vnv38VGe

Government Operations Fundamentals Friday, December 31st 9:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Government Operations Fundamentals is a basic level course that introduces the roles, responsibilities and tasks of the Red Cross government liaison. Participants engage in activities and scenarios that Red Cross government liaisons typically encounter when representing the Red Cross throughout the disaster cycle.

Sign up to participate - https://forms.office.com/r/YXkGnpAhrR
 
Previous Classes:
Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview – Wednesday, December 22nd 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

This course is the first in the Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) course curriculum. It provides an overview of how DCS fulfills the Red Cross mission and describes the whole cycle process of helping individuals, families and communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from disasters. The course also reviews the role of community and government partners and describes opportunities for volunteers in Disaster Cycle Services.

Everyone is Welcome - Wednesday, December 22nd, 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Everyone is Welcome is a basic instructor-led and web-based course that informs the learner about the Red Cross commitment to excellent service delivery to individuals with access and functional needs, including those with disabilities by inclusion and integration of their varied needs before, during and after disasters. This course also provides tips for providing services to individuals with access and functional needs, including those with disabilities

Disaster Action Team Fundamentals - Wednesday, December 22nd, 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.

Disaster Action Team Fundamentals is a basic level, web-based or instructor-led training that provides instructions to current, new and potential Disaster Action Team (DAT) members on how to perform tasks and key job duties as described by the Disaster Action Team Program Standards and Procedures.

Disaster Assessment Fundamentals v2 – Thursday, December 23rd, 10:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.

Disaster Assessment Fundamentals v2 is a basic level course that is available in two delivery methods: web-based and instructor-led. The course introduces the tasks and responsibilities of Disaster Assessment responders on a disaster relief operation. 

To learn more about becoming a volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer

Volunteers - the backbone of the Red Cross

As residents begin their recovery from the devastation left by historic tornadoes, Red Cross volunteers are arriving from around the country to help. Some volunteers from the Jennings Creek Elementary shelter shared their reasons for deploying. 

Pictured from left to right: Volunteers Jeff Roediger, Vonetta Woods,
Deane Oliva, Matt Strafford and Carrie Odegaard

Jeff Roediger from Charleston, SC, in Disaster Mental Health, is on his fourteenth deployment. He says he keeps deploying because there aren't as many volunteers who specialize in mental health services as there are in other volunteer positions, "so, when something like this comes up, you know, out the door I go.”

Vonetta Woods, originally from Benton Harbor, MI, now lives in Bowling Green. She says she knows people affected by the tornado. She came to help because, “It hit so close to home, and I'm just blessed, and it didn't touch us and I wanted to help out the others.”

Deane Oliva, from Bowling Green, KY, serves in Disaster Mental Health. Deane is the regional lead for the Disaster Spiritual Care Team in Kentucky and is from Bowling Green. Disaster Spiritual Care Team members provide spiritual care support to individuals and families who have been impacted by a disaster.

Matt Strafford is from Erlanger KY. The 20-year-old says he came to help because “I just wanted to help people any way I can, and I just enjoy intense situations and I feel that's where I'm called to be the most.” He encourages others to volunteer, saying, “[W]e need more young people, more people like me, with the energy and the strength to be able to help others.”

Carrie Odegaard from Shelly, MN, has deployed more than twenty times. In her experience, she says, “Every disaster response is different, and all the people we help are totally different on each disaster that we go to. But the main thing that we try to keep the same is how we take care of people.”

You can help people affected by disasters like tornadoes and countless other crises. Sign up to become a Red Cross volunteer at redcross.org/volunteer.

Omega Psi Phi Blood Drive Honors Dr. Charles Drew, Supports Sickle Cell Patients

Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc. will be hosting a blood drive on Monday, November 15 from 10am-3pm at the American Red Cross at 510 E. Chestnut Street, Louisville, KY.

Severe pain, stroke and organ damage are sickle cell
disease complications. Transfusions provide healthy
red blood cells to deliver oxygen through the
body and unblock blood vessels. 

The blood drive honors the work of Dr. Charles Drew, the first Medical Director of American Red Cross Blood Services, and is part of the Red Cross sickle cell initiative blood drives. Patients living with sickle cell disease often face ongoing blood transfusions, and helping donate can make a lifesaving difference. That is why the American Red Cross has launched an initiative to grow the number of blood donors who are Black to help patients with sickle cell disease. The blood drive will also focus on Sickle Cell Trait Screening.

Sickle cell is the most common genetic blood disease in the US. Blood transfusion is a key treatment. Most patients with the disease are of African descent and rely on blood given by people of the same race or ethnicity.

“Partnerships with national and local organizations within the Black community are critical to building trust, sharing information, and working together to engage new donors to help save lives,” said Kevin Holston, Theta Omega Chapter of Omega Psi Phi.

All presenting donors will receive a $20 gift card by email, thanks to our partners at Amazon. Donors are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or downloading the free Blood Donor App.

Grandson Honors Grandfather and Red Cross Volunteer through Memorial Blood Drive

Communities across the country count on the Red Cross for help every day – and supporting those communities is at the heart of our mission. Lee Taylor, a late volunteer with the Louisville Area Chapter Red Cross, spent his life giving back to his community.

By day, Lee was a firefighter with the Louisville Fire Department – a role he held for 36 years. He went on to be a Battalion Chief until his retirement in 1996. As a Red Cross volunteer, Lee assisted others in his community and around the country. He deployed nationally to disasters like hurricanes, and responded locally to home fires in the Louisville Area to offer comfort and hope to people in need. He was also an avid blood donor, and donated around 40 gallons over the course of 52 years.

Lee Taylor (right) with grandson Javier

In honor of Lee’s service to the community and dedication to the Red Cross mission, his grandson, 16-year-old Javier Bernard, is hosting a blood drive in his memory at First Christian Church in Jeffersonville, Indiana. 

“Pappy battled bladder cancer for 4 years and received blood products during his treatment and surgery,” said Javier. “This is my way of honoring him and giving back to my community.”

This blood drive also holds a special significance as Javier’s final step in becoming an Eagle Scout.

“[Lee] is the reason I got involved with scouts,” said Javier. “He used to take me to my meetings at First Christian Church. He helped me with several of my projects and merit badges. My Pappy was an avid blood donor and I want to honor him.”

To Javier, Lee Taylor was a titan in his community. For this reason, Javier is calling the blood drive the “Taylor’s Titans” Memorial Blood Drive. The drive has a goal of 75 units of blood, but Javier wants to fill as many appointment slots as possible in honor of his grandfather and hopes that firefighters, first responders, Boy Scouts and Red Cross volunteers will roll up a sleeve to donate.

“Through this drive, Pappy’s memory lives on,” said Javier.

Taylor’s Titans Memorial Blood drive will be held at First Christian Church at 3209 Middle Road, Jeffersonville, IN 47130 on November 13 from 11:00 AM - 05:00 PM. The drive is open to the public and donors are encouraged to make an appointment by calling 1-800-RED CROSS, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or downloading the free Blood Donor App.

Kentucky Red Cross Honors Rickey Porter as Clara Barton Award Recipient

Since 2013, Rickey Porter has been a “Serving Leader” in the Red Cross Kentucky Region and the Western Kentucky Chapter. Rickey maintains incredible empathy, patience and poise while taking the steps to ensure that the Red Cross is prepared to serve our community. 

He has mentored new and seasoned volunteers alike, and has paved the way for others to provide high levels of service to those in their moments of greatest need. For these reasons, we are proud to announce him as a recipient of this year’s regional Clara Barton Award. The Clara Barton Award recognizes service in volunteer leadership positions held over a period of years.

In the nine years Rickey has been with the Red Cross, he has continued to take on additional responsibilities to ensure that volunteers and the region have what they need to grow and be successful. He has deployed to disasters at home and across the country more than 20 times because he believes in providing for those who have been affected. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, Rickey has deployed 8 times and logged more than 1,060 hours helping locally. He also responds to an average of 200 home fire cases a year and treats each one as they are the most important one.

Rickey is also a member of our Integrated Care and Condolence Team. In this role, he supports not only the Western Kentucky Chapter but the South Central Kentucky Chapter as well, often leading to interactions with hospital social workers, medical professionals and local coroners. He has been essential in the growth of community partnerships within Western Kentucky with various churches and has provided preparedness and safety education to the community. He is a hands-only CPR instructor and a First Aid/CPR instructor and maintains his certifications just so he can teach life-saving skills to our volunteers. He also provides First Aid stations on behalf of the Red Cross when requested for events such as the Owensboro Air Show and the Senior Games in Hopkinsville.

Rickey’s calm, competent leadership has been essential to the success of the Red Cross mission and objectives here in the Kentucky Region and his expertise is invaluable to our mission delivery. As a region, we are grateful for the support of such an outstanding volunteer!

Kentucky Red Cross Honors Missy Hall as Volunteer of the Year

Every day, the Red Cross relies on volunteers to achieve its mission, and day-in and day-out, Melissa “Missy” Hall goes above and beyond to make sure that mission is fulfilled.

Missy (second from right) receiving
the Volunteer of the Year award

Missy, who joined the Red Cross in 2019, volunteers not just as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer, but also as a mentor and leader for other volunteers. She is always quick to answer the call to service and has served a number of roles to support the Bluegrass Area Chapter. 

In the past year, Missy has logged more than 470 volunteer hours, responded to more than 45 home fires and served on 3 disaster deployments. She has never wavered in her willingness to respond to the call of action, and for these reasons we are proud to announce her as a recipient of this year’s regional Volunteer of the Year award.

Missy showed exemplary support to the Red Cross mission when she was deployed to the flood response in central and eastern Kentucky this spring. She initially assisted the response by conducting damage assessments in impacted communities, and was then asked, despite having no logistics or supply training, to continue her deployment as the Supply and Procurement Manager. Missy quickly took the required training and coordinated with the outgoing manager to get on-the-job training before successfully taking on the role. She also agreed to continue assisting the response until it ended – for a total deployment of one month.

In addition, after spending a 12-hour day doing damage assessment for this response, Missy received a call on her way home one evening regarding a multi-family fire. Without hesitation, Missy drove to the fire scene to assist the impacted residents.

Missy consistently puts the mission of the Red Cross at the forefront. She truly displays a superior commitment and responsibility towards mission and the needs of the people we assist. Missy is an amazing Red Crosser with a true servant’s heart and we are proud to support her nomination!

Blood Donor Highlight: Malisa and Stephen

Stephen and Malisa have been making Power Red donations together every four months since they got married. Malisa began donating blood after she married Stephen, while Stephen began donating in high school.

"We come [donate] together,” said Malisa. “It’s our date day.”

Power Red donations are similar to whole blood donations, except a special machine is used to allow donors to safely donate two units of red blood cells during one donation while returning their plasma and platelets.

Stephen’s blood type is O+. When asked why he donates, he replied “The need is there. I’ve had parents, grandparents in hospitals. The need is high.”

Malisa has type B- blood—a rarer blood type—and donates because she wants to help others.

“It’s quick and easy to do something small,” Malisa said. “I don’t consider it big, but someone else will.”

As of September ‘21, Stephen has donated 64 units of blood, and Malisa has donated 18 units since she started using the Red Cross Blood Donor app to track her donations.

The Red Cross national blood inventory is the lowest it’s been at this time of year since 2015. There’s an immediate need for blood donations, especially type O, as well as platelets to help overcome an emergency shortage. If you’re feeling well, please roll up a sleeve and donate. Sign up at rcblood.org/donate.

Kentucky Red Cross Honors the Life of Debra “Granny” Smith

Today, the Kentucky Red Cross honors the life of one of our volunteers, Debra “Granny” Smith. Debra passed on Tuesday, September 7. Debra has been a beloved volunteer with the Red Cross Eastern and Bluegrass Area Chapters since 2015, and gave more than 5,000 volunteer hours to the Red Cross.

Debra was recruited as a volunteer by her granddaughter, Bluegrass Area Chapter Disaster Program Manager Amanda Shotton, and began volunteering wherever she was needed. Eventually she settled into the Duty Officer role supporting our Disaster Action Team (DAT). She also worked closely beside her daughter, Eastern KY Chapter Disaster Program Specialist Melissa McGill, to ensure there was volunteer coverage for the chapter.

Debra (center) with Melissa (left) and Amanda (right)
volunteering at a Sound the Alarm event

Debra could be counted on for many roles within disaster services, including Disaster Action Team Intake, Duty Officer, and providing preparedness education and administrative support to the chapters. During just this past year, Debra was instrumental in making sure Red Cross services continued during the pandemic as well as during the many disaster responses Kentucky faced, including the recent flooding in eastern Kentucky.

Due to her extensive experience, leadership abilities and dedication, Debra served as a leader and mentor to volunteers throughout the Region. In the Eastern Kentucky Chapter, Debra helped guide both new and experienced DAT members. Within the Bluegrass Area Chapter, she served as a mentor helping train responders in the roles of both DAT member and DAT Duty Officer.

Debra also worked closely with her daughter and granddaughter as part of her disaster team role and on our home fire and preparedness campaigns. She attended Sound the Alarm events, Pillowcase Project presentations, delivered smoke alarms, input forms from events and more. While preparedness programs were paused for much of the 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Debra continued to strengthen our community ties by working closely with fire departments and county dispatchers.

Debra’s continued contributions to the Red Cross, the Kentucky Region and both the Eastern Kentucky and Bluegrass Area Chapters were an ongoing example of the best of Red Cross volunteers, and for those reasons, earlier this year she was nominated for a Clara Barton Award in both chapters. The Clara Barton Award recognizes meritorious service in volunteer leadership positions held over a period of years. Her dedication to the Red Cross mission and service delivery on behalf of individuals and families rose above the challenges presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, and her positive attitude, love of the mission and willingness to help regardless of the area of responsibility, embodied and exceeded the characteristics honored by the Clara Barton award.

Debra’s dedication to her community and family is indicative of the kind of person she was: Someone who was always willing to help those faced with tragedy and disaster. She was an exemplary volunteer, a dear friend and has left a lasting mark on the work of our disaster services. She will be greatly missed.

Credit to: Zach Stokes and Jim Mistretta

For patients with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions are essential

Seventeen-year-old Demarus Torrence loves comics and sci-fi movies, and like his favorite superheroes, he’s awfully brave himself. Demarus lives with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder, which affects about 100,000 people in the U.S.

 

What is sickle cell disease?

•       Sickle cell disease makes red blood cells hard and sickle-shaped instead of soft and round.

•       Blood flow can be blocked and impact oxygen delivery.

•       It can cause severe pain, strokes and organ damage.

•       Sickle cell disease disproportionately impacts the Black community.

 

Like many others with sickle cell disease, Demarus endures monthly blood transfusions, and, at times, regular hospital stays to help with extreme pain and other complications. “Just imagine someone hitting your back with a hammer, constantly, and it just won’t stop,” says Demarus’ mother, Passion Terrell. “[Demarus] describes it, and you can picture it, but you really can’t.”

Blood transfusion is essential in managing the very real pain and long-term health of those with sickle cell disease. Transfusions provide healthy red blood cells to help deliver oxygen throughout the body and unblock blood vessels. For Demarus, blood transfusions make a world of difference to his health. “It’s amazing – once he gets that blood in him, it’s like a different person,” Passion said. “His breathing improves; his blood levels improve. It’s like his body wakes up.”

A patient with sickle cell disease can require up to 100 units of blood each year to treat complications from the disease. Many may need to receive blood transfusions throughout their lives. Unfortunately, these patients may develop an immune response against blood from donors that is not closely matched to their own. Many individuals who are Black have distinct markers on their red blood cells that make their donations ideal for helping patients with sickle cell disease.  

To help ensure closely matched blood products are available for patients with sickle cell disease, the American Red Cross has launched a national initiative to grow the number of blood donors who are Black.

Join with the Red Cross to help address this health disparity by making an appointment to give blood:

·         Sign up at RedCrossBlood.org.

·         Sign up with the Red Cross Blood Donor App.

·         Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

·         Or enable the Blood Donor Skill on any Alexa Echo device.