Volunteer Appreciation Week: Delores and Charlie Oberhausen

As part of Volunteer Appreciation Week, we’re highlighting some of the volunteers who work behind the scenes every day to help support the mission of the American Red Cross!

Delores and Charlie Oberhausen are Louisville Area Chapter volunteers who have been volunteering since 2010. Charlie started volunteering at Habitat for Humanity after he retired, where he helped build houses. He later learned that the Red Cross was looking for people to volunteer as Transportation Specialists. Transportation Specialists deliver life-saving blood products from Red Cross distribution facilities to hospitals, and so Charlie decided that he would rather drive a truck instead of a nail and became a Red Cross volunteer.

Delores began volunteering for the Red Cross by working at blood drives, but she was also looking for something that would allow her to work on computer data projects and train others. She could not have been happier when she got a call from the Financial Development department wanting her help. While she now spends most of her time assisting Financial Development, Delores is always willing to help wherever she’s needed, and in 2018 she received the Volunteer of the Year award for her outstanding service.

For Charlie and Delores, volunteering is a way to keep their minds and bodies active. In Delores’ case, it also keeps some of her computer technical skills active, and she loves doing computer work. Charlie is proud to volunteer for an organization that helps people in their time of need, and it makes Delores feel good to help other people and those that she works for are so appreciative.

When they aren’t volunteering, Delores enjoys creating family trees for family and friends, and Charlie likes to take photos of gravestones and post them on Find A Grave. They both enjoy bike riding, walking in The Parklands and going on cruises.

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.