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.