Sherry Robbin's Broccoli-Strawberry Salad

Millions of people will gather during the holidays to enjoy time with loved ones and a delicious holiday dinner. We reached out to our volunteers to get some of their favorite recipes to share with you. With cooking being the number one cause of home fires, check out these Red Cross fire safety steps: https://rdcrss.org/41hXvgS

Here’s a recipe for broccoli-strawberry salad from Sherry Robbins, who has been a Red Crosser for more than 30 years:

BROCCOLI-STRAWBERRY SALAD

6 cups Fresh Broccoli Florets 

2 cups Fresh Strawberries

¾ cups Dry Roasted Peanuts

1 cup Carrots (julienne style)

½ cup Diced Red Onion

1 cup Golden Raisins

Dressing:

1 cup Mayo

½ cup Powdered Sugar

2 Tbsp Cider Vinegar

Mix mayo, powdered sugar and vinegar until sugar is dissolved.  Mix all other ingredients into a large bowl.  Pour the dressing over and mix all together right before serving.   (I like to double the dressing just to make sure I have enough.)

NOTE:  There are many variations to this recipe…you can use regular sugar instead of powdered sugar, grapes instead of raisins, red wine vinegar instead of apple cider vinegar, cashews or pine nuts instead of peanuts.  If you are watching sugar-intake or someone is diabetic, you can substitute Splenda.

Julia McNeal's Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

Millions of people will gather during the holidays to enjoy time with loved ones and a delicious holiday dinner. We reached out to our volunteers to get some of their favorite recipes to share with you. With cooking being the number one cause of home fires, check out these Red Cross fire safety steps: https://rdcrss.org/41hXvgS

Thanks to Julia McNeal for her chocolate chip pumpkin bread recipe. See details here: 

Chocolate chip pumpkin bread

- 2 c granulated sugar

- ½ c butter, softened

- 3 large eggs

- 2 tsp vanilla extract

- 15 oz canned pumpkin

- 2 ¾ c all-purpose flour

- ½ tsp baking powder

- 1 ½ tsp baking soda

- 1 tsp salt

- ¾ tsp cinnamon

- ¼ tsp ground cloves

- ¼ tsp ground nutmeg

- ½ c milk

- 12 oz chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line the bottom of two 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaf pans* with a piece of parchment paper. Spray all over with cooking spray.

Add the sugar and butter to a mixing bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Add eggs, pumpkin and vanilla and mix to combine.

In a separate bowl mix together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, cloves, and nutmeg.

Alternately add flour mixture, then milk to pumpkin mixture, starting and ending with flour. Fold in chocolate chips at the end.

Pour the batter into prepared pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool for a few minutes in the pan before inverting onto a wire rack to cool.

Mini loaves will bake for around 25-35 minutes.

Stacey Biggs' Chocolate Chip Pie and Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

 Millions of people will gather during the holidays to enjoy time with loved ones and a delicious holiday dinner. We reached out to our volunteers to get some of their favorite recipes to share with you. With cooking being the number one cause of home fires, check out these Red Cross fire safety steps: https://rdcrss.org/41hXvgS

Thank you to Stacey Biggs for two delicious and mouth-watering desserts, a chocolate chip pie and chewy peppermint crinkle cookies!

Chocolate Chip Pie

½ c. all-purpose flour

1 c. sugar

½ c. softened butter

2 eggs, beaten

1 tsp. vanilla extract

½ c. milk chocolate chips

½ c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 c. chopped pecans

1 unbaked pie shell

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, butter, eggs and vanilla until combined. Fold in chocolate chips and pecans. Pour the mixture into an unbaked pie shell and bake for 30 minutes. Cover the edges with foil to prevent burning and bake for an additional 15-18 minutes until the top of the pie is set and golden brown.

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Chewy Peppermint Crinkle Cookies

10 candy canes, unwrapped

 2 cups granulated sugar

 1 cups unsalted butter, room temperature

 2 large eggs, room temperature

 1 tablespoon vanilla extract

 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

 1/2 teaspoon baking powder

 1/2 teaspoon baking soda

 3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour

 1/2 cup powdered sugar

Preheat oven 350°F. Prepare baking sheets with parchment paper.

Double bag 2 (resealable) 1-gallon plastic bags. Place candy canes inside and seal. Crush candy canes with a rolling pin until pieces are smaller than a pea. Set aside.

In the bowl of a stand mixer or an electric mixer combine sugar and butter, cream until light and fluffy, approximately 3-5 minutes. Add in vanilla extract and eggs. Mix until combined. Scrape sides down as needed. Add salt, powder, soda and flour. Mix until combined. Scrape sides of bowl as necessary. Add crushed candy canes (powder and all).

Pour powdered sugar onto a large plate. Scoop 1 tablespoon portions of dough and roll into a ball. Roll in powdered sugar until coated. Place on baking sheet and repeat with remaining dough. I made 12 per sheet, but you could easily fit 18.

Bake for 9-11 minutes or until bottoms begin to barely brown and cookies look matte. Remove from oven and cool cookies about 3 minutes before transferring to cooling rack.

Mona Huff's Rum Bars

Millions of people will gather during the holidays to enjoy time with loved ones and a delicious holiday dinner. We reached out to our volunteers to get some of their favorite recipes to share with you. With cooking being the number one cause of home fires, check out these Red Cross fire safety steps: https://rdcrss.org/41hXvgS

Thank you to Mona Huff for sharing her rum bars recipe!

Rum Bars

Ingredients

· 4 cups chopped pecans, divided

· 1 cup butter, softened

· 2-1/4 cups packed brown sugar

· 4 large eggs, room temperature

· 2 tablespoons vanilla extract

· 1 cup all-purpose flour

· 2-1/4 cups red candied cherries

· 1-1/2 cups chopped candied pineapple

· 1/2 cup chopped candied citron

· 1/3 cup rum

Directions

Sprinkle 3 cups pecans over a greased 15x10x1-in. baking pan; set aside.

Preheat oven to 350°. In a large bowl, cream butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy, 5-7 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in vanilla. Gradually add flour to creamed mixture, beating well. Spread batter into prepared pan. Combine candied fruit and the remaining pecans. Spread fruit and pecans evenly over creamed mixture; press gently to help mixtures adhere. Bake until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Sprinkle rum over the top; cool completely in pan on a wire rack. Cut into bars. Store in an airtight container.

Jacqueline Hunt's Candied Pecans

Millions of people will gather during the holidays to enjoy time with loved ones and a delicious holiday dinner. We reached out to our volunteers to get some of their favorite recipes to share with you. With cooking being the number one cause of home fires, check out these Red Cross fire safety steps: https://rdcrss.org/41hXvgS

Here is one of Jacqueline Hunt’s favorite holiday recipes to share, candied pecans. “You can get cute, inexpensive holiday tins at the dollar store to fill with these pecans and people love them. I usually make about 6 pounds of candied pecans each Christmas to leave as small gifts.” 


CANDIED PECANS 

This simple recipe for candied nuts only calls for 7 ingredients. They are perfect for topping various salads, entrees, and desserts. And they also make a delicious gift!

PREP TIME: 10 MIN
COOK TIME: 40 MIN
TOTAL TIME: 50 MIN

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1 Tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon cayenne
4 cups (12 ounces) pecans halves, unsalted
1 egg white, whisked

DIRECTIONS:

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.

2. Add the granulated sugar, brown sugar, cinnamon, salt and cayenne to a large bowl or ziplock bag. Toss or whisk until evenly combined. Set aside.

3. In a separate bowl, add pecans and egg whites, and gently toss until combined and the pecans are evenly coated. Add in the sugar mixture and toss until combined.

4. Spread the mixture out in a single layer on a parchment-lined baking sheet. (If your baking sheet is not that large, you may need to split the batch onto two baking sheets.) Bake for about 40 minutes, removing the nuts and giving them a stir every 20 minutes, until the pecans are fragrant, and the sugar coating is cooked. (The sugar will harden more once the pecans are out of the oven.)

5. Remove from the oven and let the baking sheet cool on a cooling rack until the nuts reach room temperature. Transfer them to a sealed container and store until ready to use.

Student Blood Donor Encourages Others to Give Back

The University of Louisville has a rising star among their freshman class in Keegan Merrifield. Keegan started helping with the Jeffersonville High School blood drives during his freshman year. “I had this one teacher I had known since 7th grade. She was hosting the blood drives at school, and I started asking her questions about it… She offered for me to work and sign people in,” said Keegan. “And she said, you can donate too.”

Keegan at his graduation

Jeffersonville High School has a student led blood drive program through their InterACT club. The club is designed for the students to serve their school and community and is sponsored by the Rotary Club of Clark County, IN. The club has over 100 active students engaging in recycling, food donations and leadership opportunities.

The first time Keegan donated blood, he was understandably nervous. “The Red Cross nurses were incredibly kind. All the nurses I have met have been,” said Keegan. “I sat there on my phone for about five minutes. It amazed me. I thought ‘this small thing is going to help 3 people.” He went on to say how easy and quick it was, and how it’s a form of community service.

“This is community service but it’s a different type. For this, you give your time and your body. It’s something you can’t make. Ever since then, it has stuck with me. I’ve been advocating to my family and friends saying, ‘you all have to do this,” said Keegan. Throughout his high school career, he volunteered at the blood drives checking donors in and greeting them. He also made it his personal goal to hit 1 gallon of blood donated before high school graduation.

Keegan achieved his goal of donating 1 gallon and is now looking forward to his future. He is a UofL Speed School Engineering student. One of his criteria for choosing a school was knowing the institution had a partnership with Red Cross. We were able to speak with Keegan’s mom, Crystal Merrifield, about her son and his servant’s heart.

“He’s always just made us proud. He’s always been a kindhearted and giving type of individual… [Red Cross] has become part of who he is. He takes me with him to donate blood. I don’t always have the iron levels to give, but when I can, he cheers me on… He’s known for a long time he wants to be an engineer- but this is his heart passion,” said Crystal. She went on to say that she loves that he has found his passion at such a young age.

In high school, Keegan was part of the National Honor Society and a member of marching and pep band. He plays the trumpet and is now a member of the UofL pep band. “It’s kind of bittersweet. It’s sad I [had to] leave high school, but I know things will only get better at UofL. I will meet new people; it will be a new environment. I will grow,” said Keegan.

Keegan and his family

Join Keegan this holiday season by giving blood at our Holiday Hero Donorama Blood Drive blood drive Dec. 26-27 at the UAW Local 862 Union Hall in Louisville. Your donation may give patients more time – and more holidays – with loved ones. Make your appointment by visiting rcblood.org/2RfRf7r, downloading the Blood Donor App or calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Fort Knox service members bring holiday cheer and toys to Santa’s Workshop

By Kevin Sandell, Red Cross volunteer

Soldiers and families participate in ruck march

Much like Santa hauling his sack of toys to children every Christmas, U.S. Army soldiers assigned to Fort Knox donned their ruck sacks full of new, donated toys and marched to the Santa’s Workshop toy drive on post, in mid-November. For the units involved, participating in the toy donation ruck march was a way to give back to an organization that has contributed to the welfare of service members and their families. 

“As one of the main tenant units on Ft. Knox … it is vitally important to show support within the Ft. Knox community,” said Sgt. 1st Class Derek Koth, with First Army Division East who led a team of soldiers on the march. “Places like the [American] Red Cross and Santa’s Workshop do so much for the soldiers and civilians on post that are in need. More importantly, around the holidays when families are stretched thin and some struggle, this ruck march and giving back to them is the least we can do.”

Santa’s Workshop is a program through Service to the Armed Forces to provide new, unwrapped gifts to military families who are financially insecure during the holidays. Operated entirely by Red Cross volunteers, Santa’s Workshop is a need-based program that allows active and reserve military families at Fort Knox to receive presents for their children through the generosity of donors. In 2022, over 280 children received presents, a nearly 20% increase from 2021.  

“The American Red Cross Fort Knox Office is incredible and the best that I have come across in my career,” said Maj. Tony Ibrahim, commander of the U.S. Army Human Resources Command headquarters company. “Anytime that a HRC soldier or family required assistance, the Red Cross [at Fort Knox] immediately jumped into action to lend a hand.” 

This year, U.S. Army Human Resources Command and First Army Division East were just two of several units, including U.S. Army Recruiting Command and the 19th Engineer Battalion, that conducted ruck marches to support Santa’s Workshop. In 2022, 15 units at Fort Knox voluntarily conducted ruck marches with soldiers, family members, and even their pets to donate toys. Military families from 21 units at Fort Knox were supported by the Santa’s Workshop in 2022. 

U.S. Army soldiers place toys in collection bins 

Both Ibrahim and Koth said their units had participated in the annual toy drive ruck march since at least 2021. They also credited abundant volunteerism and selfless service among their soldiers’ qualities and said the soldiers are “committed to service excellence both at work and outside of work.” Supporting financially-insecure soldiers and their families during the holidays was a top priority for both units, they said. 

Military families can apply for the Santa’s Workshop program through an online application. Families can “shop for” presents from Dec. 4-8, 2023, at the Santa’s Workshop location at the Red Cross Warrior Warehouse on post. Those looking for more information or interested in donating toys, gift cards, or money can contact the Red Cross at 502-624-2163. 

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About the Author: Kevin Sandell is an active-duty soldier at Fort Knox who serves as a communications volunteer with the American Red Cross South Central Kentucky Chapter. He has served in the U.S. Army since 2007 and has also served in Kentucky, New York, Texas, South Carolina, and the Pentagon. He has deployed three times to Afghanistan and Kosovo and is married with four children.

Employee Spotlight: John Matthews, Part 2

John with service members

Less than 6 months on the job, John helped a service member’s family after they had passed away in Iraq. “I worked with the funeral home, the family, and Rolling Thunder,” said John. Rolling Thunder, Inc. is an organization that brings awareness to American Prisoners of War and Missing In Action (POW-MIA) service members. Local chapters have motorcycle groups who escort fallen soldiers. “We have a big Rolling Thunder group in Kentucky. Tremendous group,” said John.

One of John’s favorite memories is delivering birth messages. He delivered 2 messages in Romania and 3 in Poznan. “I designed a birth certificate in Romania…The command was excited taking it to the service member. You can’t send them home unless there’s a medical issue. That was a neat thing they got to do.”

It was important to John to give the service members a sense of home and family while deployed. “I managed to do a makeshift Kentucky Derby party and a book drive,” he said. John’s proudest moment was designing “Billy’s Baseballs” for the entire deployment in Romania.

“There was a kid who, for his bar mitzvah, developed this program to have normal citizens write messages on baseballs of thanks and good wishes to the service members and ship them off. I reached out to Billy, who was a freshman in college at that point, and said would you be willing to send a bunch of baseballs.” Billy agreed and John was able to divide the baseballs among the units on base.

John in Romania

Honoring service members is close to John’s heart. He currently wears 3 bracelets on his arm representing lives of service members. He has a black memorial bracelet for Darrin K. Potter, son of our SAF volunteer, Lynn Romans. Darrin was killed outside Baghdad, Iraq at 24 years old. “Black bracelets are for somebody who has died… Anyone who has passed in combat,” said John.

John also wears two POW-MIA bracelets that are silver. “The tradition (with POW-MIA bracelets) is you wear it until they break, or the service member comes home. If they return home, you are supposed to take it off and mail it back to the family, so they know how many people were wearing the bracelet.”

When John is not deployed, he works from Fort Knox. “[At Fort Knox] I work with the veterans and National Guard. I’m doing yellow ribbon events to send National Guard off to deployment. I make sure the needs are met around here. I also teach international humanitarian law and I work with the youth action campaign.”

We are so happy to have John on our team and helping our service members at Fort Knox and around the world! #SAF

Employee Spotlight: John Matthews, Part 1

 

W. John Matthews III, MPA

Did you know the American Red Cross is the only Red Cross that has the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF)? John Matthews is our Senior Regional Program Specialist and has deployed twice: Romania (Germany) and Poznan (Poland). He has seen firsthand the impact we have. “For many of these foreign troops, they have never seen this in their lives. Everything from the canteen outside my office with snacks and the hygiene items. They are coming up and saying ‘This is free? I can just take some?’ I said yes. That’s why we are here.”

In Romania, John got acquainted with some British troops who started taking notes about SAF. “They were so fascinated with the idea that we’re the ones who do emergency messaging,” he said. John managed over 575 cases of emergency messages through our Hero Care Network while deployed to both countries. The network enables us to provide critical services to military members, veterans and their families all over the world. These vital services include responding to emergency needs for food, clothing, and shelter, referrals to counseling services, and information on veterans’ cemeteries and burial benefits.

With a history in emergency management, John started with our team in 2018. “I had experience working with the military and military families. This seemed like a good fit. I came into the position learning about the oldest arm of the American Red Cross. It’s been a fascinating ride.”

John with volunteer in Romania

Here Comes Santa's Workshop!

L to R: Christina Rivas, Lori  Dowgielewicz and
Jenny Markovich

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Our elves at Santa’s Workshop are gearing up for another magical season of giving. Lori Dowgielewicz and Christina Rivas are the Red Cross volunteer co-leads for Santa’s Workshop at Fort Knox. Lori is a retired veteran and Christina is active duty. They both arrived on base last summer and wanted to see about volunteer opportunities. They found Red Cross and May Giulitto, our Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) Director.

“I always thought the Red Cross was just blood drives. In the army, I gave blood as much as I could… Being here, it’s fulfilling. I bring my daughter to volunteer with me. Instilling in her the importance of giving time and talents as a mother is rewarding,” said Lori.

Santa’s Workshop provides toys for military families who are financially insecure during the holiday season. Soldiers and spouses shop our inventory for their children. “Every gift to families is donated by someone else. We take donations all year long… We have 55-gallon drum barrels we sign out to units and take collections in. The units come and do road marches over here and put toys in their ruck sacks,” said Lori.

Santa's Workshop entrance

It's a needs-based program, so it doesn’t matter if you are an E-1 (entry level paygrade) or lieutenant colonel. Shop week is coming up on December 4^th-8^th. The volunteer team is hard at work sorting the gifts and decorating the space. “It’s really inspiring. Coming through the ranks I understand those lower enlisted don’t get paid a lot… Our programs here are phenomenal,” said Christina.

Soldiers and their spouses will walk into a festive space with holiday music and refreshments while they shop. “We are giving each family a basket filled with cookie dough, frosting, a cookie cutter and spatula so they can bake cookies as a family activity. We have been working with the food pantry to get those items donated,” Lori explained. “We are fortunate enough that we have some generous people in our community donate higher price items like bicycles and hoverboards…We had a Nintendo Switch donated. Because we don’t have enough of those to give every family, we use those as opportunities for a drawing.”

Parents with kids 10 and under will also receive a bag with stocking stuffers. Christina and Lori are excited to meet the soldiers and provide them holiday cheer. “It means a lot. Being part of the Red Cross is absolutely amazing. It warms my heart… The parents find appreciation and joy of receiving something for their kids,” said Christina. Christina is also a member of our Disaster Action Team (DAT) on call to respond to house fires, floods and other disasters.

 

Keep Reaching Out Your Hand: Helping Hands at Fort Knox

Our Helping Hands program at Fort Knox can be described as a safe zone for the military community. It’s also a comforting place to welcome kids with special needs and offer them an educational setting. Kelly Iglesias and Barbara Dupree are the Red Cross volunteer co-leads for the Helping Hands Food Pantry and Lending Closet. Their sons, Jesse and Jack, have grown their interpersonal skills since volunteering with them. 

Barbara Dupree (L) and Kelly Iglesias (R)

“This is wonderful. In a place where you don’t really have the transitional service for young adults with disabilities, the Red Cross has offered us an environment where they can get it. It feels like a family here. The boys are supported,” said Kelly. Barbara echoes her feelings, saying, “It’s nice because they have been able to speak on their behalf and advocate for themselves. I love the people that are here.”

Barbara came from Italy with her husband who has been in the Marine Corp for 25 years. She wanted to find job training opportunities for Jack. “We’ve had many opportunities to volunteer with different organizations, but we have always gone back to Red Cross,” said Barbara. Kelly got emotional sharing her story, saying, “The Red Cross helped when my dad passed away, we had to get back to Guam.” Our team was with Kelly every step of the way, communicating the messages. “After going through that hardship- I came here and found a family. The Red Cross was here when I needed it.”

The food pantry offers two programs. The first is a drive-thru grocery service for active-duty E-6 and below. “We give about 25 grocery items that we put into bags,” said Kelly. The second program is emergency relief. It’s not rank specific, just anyone having a hard time- including veterans, retirees and widows. “We’ll give them bags of food that should sustain them for a couple of weeks. All the way up to cleaning supplies, diapers and wipes for babies, at no cost,” said Barbara.

The lending closet offers supplemental household appliances like toasters, microwaves and crockpots. “There are usually tears of joy when they leave, and they give us a hug. It makes you feel good,” said Barbara. The team reflected on their impact, remembering a mother. “She just moved here with her husband and 6 kids. When they got into their house, it was infested…They were [temporarily] homeless and displaced, living in a motel. They realized there was a food pantry on post that services the military community. We were able to help.”

“If the programs didn’t exist, I think it would be devastating. We have numerous foster families here…That come in and need additional help because they are helping foster kids,” Barbara commented. The volunteers have also helped individuals escaping domestic violence. “I remember a mother who packed up her kids and fled. She was so grateful for our help. Between Warrior Warehouse and here, she received clothes and toys for her children… She was like: ‘All this food for us?’ I said we will find a way for you. Come back if you need more,” said Kelly.

With the help of Jesse and Jack, these ladies work countless hours giving back. All they ask in return is for the word to be spread about the services on base. “We don’t just help families on base. We want more people in the military community to know they can come here,” said Kelly.

 

#FeatureFriday May Giulitto, SAF

  

Our work with Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) at Fort Knox is remarkable. At the heart of the work is the volunteers who exude kindness and goodwill. Leading these volunteers fearlessly is none other than May Giulitto, our SAF Director. 

Anyone who knows her would probably describe May as relentless, welcoming, and witty. “Wherever the Red Cross was, it was always near and dear to my heart,” said May. May is a retired military dietician, doing 6 years active duty. She met her husband, Colonel Dean Giulitto, while serving. Dean served for 30 years as a family practice doctor. Both of their children are in the military as well.

May would volunteer at Red Cross clinics, hospitals, or blood drives wherever Dean was stationed. They moved to Fort Knox close to his retirement, and that’s where her journey as a director began. “I went to the Red Cross here. I wanted to see what they had… There was really nothing being offered but emergency messages. This job came open and they encouraged me to apply,” said May.

She recognized the need for innovation, stating, “We must make this a place where people will come and gather and volunteer. There’s no program for them to volunteer for, except for casework.” May’s mind was racing with ideas, and she decided to revamp.

Her first idea was Santa’s Workshop. “At Fort Hood, I helped with Santa’s Workshop. That was over 3,000 kids,” May replied. The mission of Santa’s Workshop is to provide toys for military families who are financially insecure during the holiday season. With a little assistance from workshop elves, soldiers and spouses shop our inventory to find items for their children.

The Helping Hands Food Pantry and Lending Closet were inspired by her volunteers. The food pantry is a drive thru stop for groceries and essential items. The lending closet is household appliances and dishes. “My volunteers will tell me there’s a huge need. And I say let’s do it. All of this is because of volunteers,” said May.

Warrior Warehouse was created through conversations with May and another volunteer. It’s a program for active duty E6 and below to shop on the last Thursday of every month. Over the weekend, veterans and retirees have a shopping day. It’s a warehouse full of essentials from clothing, hygiene items, furniture, and baby car seats. “We see a lot of young soldiers that don’t have a lot. They don’t have family that supports them. We’re here to help,” May commented.

The final program initiated offers business attire to retirees. “I had my volunteer come to me. She said we need this program for retirees. We need suits for them to go to job interviews. When I got out of the military, I had no civilian clothes,” said May. In partnership with Heroes Care, May and her volunteers were able to secure 400-500 name brand suits for men and women to wear to job interviews. There’s currently closets full of suits, dresses, shoes, and jewelry to help retirees feel prepared for the next phase of their life.

“Red Cross in a lot of military bases only does casework. I feel like our Red Cross in Kentucky has supported more soldiers that are financially insecure,” said May. “We have all these programs. And each program supports soldiers who are in need. But it also provides our military families a place to give back and volunteer. We also support the other side: veterans and retirees. Not just here on base, but anyone within a 100-mile radius of Fort Knox.”

While she wants all the spotlight on the volunteers for their work, the reality is May is a key reason that SAF in Kentucky thrives. She had a vision of a blossoming Red Cross at Fort Knox, and she’s achieved that and more. #ServicetotheArmedForces #MilitaryFamilyAppreciationMonth #VeteransDay

Blood Donor Spotlight: Angela McGinnis

Angela, left, standing with Donitra Gray,
Red Cross Collections Charge Nurse

Angela McGinnis has been a blood donor since she was in high school. “I try to do my civic duty and give back to the community… I probably donate twice a year,” said Angela. She expressed that you never know when you might be the one who needs blood. “[Blood] is not something you can make. That’s the only way you can get it is if people donate.”

Donating blood is personal for Angela, as her husband, brother and mom have needed blood transfusions. “Lots of people in my family have had medical issues… My husband had bleeding ulcers. My mom needed a transfusion when she had stomach issues. My brother has diverticulitis. He bled so bad once that he needed a pint of blood,” said Angela. She also knows someone with Sickle Cell disease. “We know as a minority it usually takes somebody in the same ethnic group to get a match,” she said.

Angela wants to encourage people to come out and give. “Donating blood is not as bad as people think. It doesn’t take much time. If not to help yourself, do it to help other people. You never know when it could be you in the hospital.”

Thank you for sharing your story, Angela! Find a blood drive in your area by going to redcrossblood.org or calling 1-800-RED-CROSS.

National Blood Collectors Week: Sydney Boyd

During the pandemic, Sydney Boyd decided to change her career and learn something new. “I already had my Bachelor’s degree. I wanted to find something I could be certified for. I went to the Kentucky School of Phlebotomy and took a 6-week course there,” said Sydney. She explained that healthcare never stops and that there’s always a need for a phlebotomist, nurse, or doctor.

Sydney has been on our team for almost 2 years. She is a Collections Specialist I and floats between our Louisville fixed donation centers. She is a natural with people, making them feel seen. Sydney commented on a grateful blood donor, saying, “There was a donor, she was in her early 70’s. At the end of her donation, she touched my arm and said, ‘you have such a calm presence and I love it. You don’t make me feel nervous.”

Another blood donor complimented Sydney’s professionalism and attention to detail. “He was quiet at the beginning. At the end, he said ‘I’m a physician’s assistant. I just wanted you to know you did everything perfectly, from disposing of waste to changing your gloves.’ That made me feel really good,” said Sydney.

Sydney loves spending time with her friends and family. She is big on mental health and tells those in her life that they can always talk to her and seek help when they need it. “Some of my friends call me their guardian angel or saving grace,” said Sydney. She loves working at the Red Cross because she knows she is always saving lives.

We are so thankful to have such an empathetic and wonderful team member! We know you will continue to make a positive impact, Sydney! #NationalBloodCollectorsWeek

National Blood Collectors Week: Tramel Ingram

It’s National Blood Collectors Week, and today we are spotlighting Tramel Ingram! Tramel is a Collections Specialist I, working at our Hubbards Lane east end location in Louisville. “It will be 11 years with the Red Cross on September 17^th,” said Tramel. “I started off on the road with blood drives as a Specialist II. I did that for 4 and a half years.”

Tramel is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) and received her degree from Jefferson Community & Technical College. One of her favorite memories is helping a blood donor through their fear of donating. “She was very nervous. I helped her calm down and eased her spirit. I gave her some calming techniques and encouraged her to take deep breaths,” said Tramel. The blood donor needed surgery a few weeks later. “Right before her surgery, she came back in with a dozen roses for me. She really appreciated me making her feel comfortable,” said Tramel.

Outside of Red Cross, Tramel continues to impact people with her nursing skills. “I work at a methadone clinic. I enjoy helping others. My heart goes out to people, and I hate to see people suffer,” she said. “I’ve seen some success stories there. And some not so good. It’s heart wrenching when people are trying, and they fall by the wayside.” Tramel has been helping at the clinic for 5 years.

In her free time, Tramel loves to spend time with her family. She’s a twin and has 2 sons and 2 grandbabies. She is a Mary Kay consultant, loves to shop and go to church. When talking about her job at Red Cross, she says simply, “I love what I do. I love people.”

National Blood Collectors Week: Savannah Cooper

Sept. 3-9 is National Blood Collectors Week, a time we celebrate the work and contributions of our blood collections team in supporting hospital patient care.

Meet Savanna Cooper! Savanna started with Red Cross last year. “I started giving platelets and got recruited by staff members,” she said. Savanna loves working with her team, saying “I always know that I’m doing something good. I’m always helping.”

Savanna is a Collections Charge Nurse. Her favorite memory involved helping a woman who was grieving the loss of her husband. “Her husband had passed away about a month prior. They used to donate blood together,” said Savanna. “It was good for her because she wanted to keep giving blood to honor him, but it was also hard because she was alone all of a sudden.” Savanna was with the blood donor during a difficult time and provided her comfort. 

Savanna has 3 dogs and loves to get outside to kayak and hike. “I love to sit and have a good book and tea,” she said. Savanna is looking forward to the next few months as she’s getting married to her fiancé, Tory, in October. Help us congratulate Savanna and thank her for her lifesaving work! #NationalBloodCollectorsWeek

National Blood Collectors Week: Savannah Stayton

 

Fun fact: Savannah Stayton is the youngest collections employee on our staff! She is 20 years old and has already been promoted to Charge Nurse during her year and a half with us.

Savannah volunteered with the Red Cross blood drives at Pleasure Ridge Park (PRP) High School in Louisville. She spoke with a staff member about becoming an employee. “I was part of the nursing program at PRP. I feel like it prepared me for having a job in healthcare and taught me how to work with people with different personalities,” said Savannah.

Savannah describes the team culture as “one big family,” and loves knowing that she is making a difference. Her favorite blood drive memory is working the “Briar’s Blessings” blood drive in Indiana. It’s hosted by a mom who lost her baby in the hospital. “She had an impact on me, because she told me her story of being in the hospital,” said Savannah. The mother had concealed placental abruption, and her baby was born via C-section the following day. The baby could not be saved, and the mother survived due to receiving various blood transfusions.

“Everyone in the community came out to donate. It was so exciting to be part of. We cried together about three times that day. She told me that she wants me at the blood drive every year,” said Savanna. Outside of work, Savanna enjoys babysitting and spending time with the kids in her family. She is often with her friends and family at the lake or a cookout.

Thank you for your lifesaving work, Savanna! #NationalBloodCollectorsWeek

National CPR and AED Awareness Week

Jeff Backus is a Red Cross volunteer blood donor ambassador and medical screener with the Louisville Area Chapter. As a screener, he is one of the volunteers who takes a blood donor’s demographic information, does their medical screening and asks health history questions when they donate blood. When he’s not volunteering, Jeff advocates for the importance of CPR.

After surviving two cardiac arrests thanks to the quick action and compassion of strangers, Jeff knows firsthand the importance of being CPR trained: "I tell people to learn CPR, because the life you save may be mine.”

In 2014, Jeff was running in Cherokee Park in Louisville when he went into cardiac arrest and collapsed.

“There was an ER nurse who had been out running, training for the Ironman, who came up on me," Jeff explained. The nurse gave Jeff hands-only CPR for 20 minutes until the EMT’s arrived and were able to take Jeff to the hospital. Hands-Only CPR is CPR performed without rescue breaths. Thanks to the nurse’s quick action, Jeff recovered and ran a half-marathon just a year after his cardiac arrest.

Then, five years later in 2019, Jeff was out running again in Cherokee Park when he collapsed for a second time. This time, a group of high school boys responded.

"They called 911 and the 911 operator talked them through giving me [hands-only] CPR until the EMTs could get there,” said Jeff. “That was one more serious. They said they shocked me 11 times in the ambulance and six times in the ER."

Despite a few setbacks, things are going well now for Jeff. He recently took a First Aid/CPR certification course through the Red Cross and now advocates for hands-only CPR training. He has been involved with the American Heart Association and has advocated for 911 operators being trained in how to walk people through hands-only CPR.

“Hands-only CPR is so easy to learn,” said Jeff. "I think it gives people the ability to respond faster. It empowers you. If you know what to do, if you have the knowledge, there's a lot less panicking.”

With a half-million cardiac arrests each year, CPR and hands-only CPR can help save a life if a person's breathing or heart stops. CPR can double or triple the chance of survival when bystanders take action. Learn more about hands-only CPR here. 

National Nurses Week: Jodie Hignite

Photos courtesy Jodie Hignite.

Jodie Hignite will have a special bond with a baby girl born in September of this year. Jodie is a Disaster Health Services (DHS) volunteer within our region. During the 2022 eastern Kentucky floods, Jodie met a woman who had lost her belongings in the damage. Jodie asked her if she could help replace her glasses, medical supplies, or prescriptions. The woman responded that the only thing she was heartbroken over was the loss of her IVF medications.

“She went on to tell me that her and her partner had been trying for years to have a baby,” said Jodie. “She went to New York to get started on IVF and secure her medications. She spent thousands on them. They got swept away in the floods.” Jodie felt it was her mission to help this request get approved. She called and bargained with pharmacies to get the prices on the medications down.

Eventually, the request got approved for the Red Cross to assist in payment. Jodie recounted the story in a shaky voice. “I received a text 2 months ago. She kept my phone number. She is having a baby girl in September. She said she is going to notify me when the baby is born.

Jodie is so passionate about her career that she went back to school 3 times to get different nursing degrees. She has a Bachelor’s in nursing, a Master’s in family nursing, a degree in Pediatric Acute Care, and in Adult Acute Care. She was a flight nurse for 20 years, which involves providing pre-hospital patient care during emergency air transport. “My favorite job was working at the University of Louisville Trauma Center. I went into every area of critical care emergency medicine that you could work in as a nurse,” said Jodie.

Jodie retired from nursing a few years ago and started volunteering at her local health department. There, she met Cindy Keeney, another of our DHS nurses. She started volunteering with the Red Cross shortly after in December of 2021. “I honestly compare it to when I did pre-hospital and I’d land at a scene, and it was life or death. There’s a lot of similarities for the people I care for now like I did back then. It feels like you’re using the same skills. When they are most vulnerable, I can save their life, provide them comfort and guidance,” said Jodie.

You are a hero in so many ways, Jodie! We love having you on our Kentucky team! #NationalNursesWeek

National Nurses Week: Cindy Keeney

It’s #NationalNursesWeek and today we are recognizing Cindy Keeney, a valued member of our Disaster Health Services (DHS) team. Cindy started her nursing journey as an intensive care nurse in the Emergency Room. She then went to work for the Kentucky state hospital association. There, she began writing a grant to improve end of life care. “The University of Louisville School of Medicine didn’t want the work to end,” said Cindy. “They decided to roll it over into an initiative with the School of Public Health and the medical school. I helped them start the program.”

Photos courtesy Cindy Keeney

Cindy did end of life care research and eventually began creating health care apps for patients with chronic diseases. “It’s so the patients can recover and transition from an acute care bed to being at home… I wrote algorithms into telehealth devices, and it would assess the patient daily. It would attach biometrics that could let them know ‘take an extra water pill,” said Cindy. “It catches health concerns before they become a problem. It keeps them in a stable place of health and wellness.”

Her work then became international, helping a mental health organization in Europe improve the health and well being of citizens. Now Cindy is teaching Health Services courses at Ivy Tech Community College and is a Clark County health department contract nurse. Cindy has been volunteering with us for 6 years. “I’m the co-lead for Disaster Health Services and I train all the new Health Services workers,” she said.

Cindy assists the Red Cross West Virginia Region as well. “Some people ask why I work with the Integrated Care Condolence Team (ICCT) as they feel it’s depressing, but it’s not really. It’s all an extension of my nursing. It’s not a job it’s a calling. Helping people in their most vulnerable state. To help them get back on their feet and feel like they can move forward is incredibly rewarding,” said Cindy.

Her favorite memory is helping a Veteran in the Harlan, Kentucky floods in 2020. “He had lost a leg in service and had a prosthetic. He was staying in a metal shed. The shed door didn’t close all the way. He was staying there and had lost his CPAP machine and prosthetic leg,” reflected Cindy.

Over time, his prosthetic leg was replaced, and he had a roof over his head. “The University of Kentucky helped us contact the makers of the prosthetic leg. They gave him the replacement at no charge,” said Cindy. “Someone the man knew needed work around her house and she ended up giving him room and board. We got his CPAP machine replaced… by the end, he was so grateful.”

Thank you, Cindy, for sharing your story and being a member of our DHS team!

Feature Friday: Virginia Smiley

Back in 2006, Virginia Smiley’s daughter was told her mom wouldn’t survive long enough to get to the hospital. “It was scary, they didn’t know why I was losing so much blood. I have AB- and the hospital didn’t think they would have enough of my blood type. They contacted St. Louis to fly blood in for me,” reflected Virginia. Her blood count dropped dangerously to 3.8 and she received 5 and a half units of blood.

Photos courtesy Virginia Smiley.

Now Virginia is the Red Cross Blood Program Leader for the VFW (Veterans of Foreign Wars) in Brandenburg, Kentucky. “I’ve been doing this for at least 15 plus years,” said Virginia. “There’s been a few times that we have done a blood drive in memory or in honor of someone. One time we had 4 [blood buses] in front of our VFW. We had over 100 donors that day.” Virginia noted that you must know your people, talk with them, and make them feel welcome. She loves hosting blood drives.

With high expectations, Brandenburg VFW expects to collect 50-60 pints of blood at each Red Cross drive. “Our smallest blood drive collected 44. We thought that was bad!” expressed Virginia. She’s a key member of the VFW in Brandenburg, attending meetings since it’s conception in 1991. “I love doing work for the veterans. We are proud of our building. We have had our own building since 2000.”

Virginia became involved with the VFW through her husband and brother who served overseas. Now, it’s a family affair. “I’ve got a grandson, he’s like me. He would do anything for the veterans. My daughter, she works the monthly veteran’s breakfast- she’s there at 5AM on a Saturday to volunteer,” said Virginia. She and her husband, Ray, have 3 kids: Renee, Bobby, and Paula.

Virginia with fellow VFW members.

Virginia is also a member of the Meade County Homemakers Society, and she says volunteering is just the thing to do. The Meade County local TV, newspaper, and radio station assist with getting the word out to the community about the need for blood. The blood drives are long days, but her volunteer team enjoys the sense of community. “We get there at 10:30am and when the night is over, you are not tired. Because you feel good. You have helped in some way.”

We are grateful for Virginia’s volunteer work to forward our mission! Thanks to the generosity of blood donors, Virginia is still with us today, making a difference in her community. Learn how to become a Blood Program Leader by going to redcross.org/volunteer.

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Crystal Gordon

If your health or career keeps you from being able to volunteer in person, we have plenty of virtual opportunities! Just ask Crystal Gordon, our Red Cross Region Disaster Casework Lead. “I got diagnosed on my 31st birthday in 2009 with Multiple Sclerosis… When I got my health straightened out, my friend pulled me into [volunteering with Red Cross]. She said ‘I think this would be a good fit. You don’t have to go anywhere; you can do it from home and a computer,” said Crystal.

Crystal has a bachelor’s degree in Social Work from Eastern Kentucky University. Her friend knew her skills would come in handy. She began volunteering in 2016 when Louisiana was getting overwhelmed with hurricanes and dangerous weather. “The Red Cross needed virtual casework workers. I went through the training,” said Crystal. She then started doing casework for the Red Cross Kentucky Region. “I started out helping people after home fires. Then I moved up to casework supervisor… I was the supervisor for the Louisville area.”

Crystal has been working to build a robust casework team ever since. “I have a wonderful casework team. We have strong support throughout the region. That makes a world of difference,” said Crystal. Where Crystal needs it, they cover for her. “On the days where the weather is going crazy, I know I’m going to be more susceptible to pain. [The team] understands. They step up and they help,” said Crystal.

She has trained her team to listen closely for the needs of families after a tragedy. “I try to be upbeat and encourage them to do what they can to help themselves. Some families say, ‘I don’t know where to start.’ You give them a starting point and a focus of what they can do. It helps them pull out of that overwhelming devastation mindset,” said Crystal. Crystal’s goal is to connect families after a disaster with financial assistance and getting a roof over their head.

“I’ve made people cry happy tears. I try to go above and beyond of what I can do. I try to get them the extra funding if it’s there. That’s the greatest feeling in the world,” said Crystal. “I’m there in their worst moment of their life... Sometimes I feel helpless, but I can try to be there for them. Try to get them some type of help. In that perspective, it makes me feel good. Most people can’t do that,” she said.

Crystal believes volunteering is a truly lifechanging thing. “I think it’s important to volunteer because it’s a different feeling… You can’t put words to it. The gratification and appreciation in a family’s voice after you help them is hard to describe. If more people volunteered, they would find a balance in their busy lives.”

In her free time, Crystal loves connecting with nature, reading, and spending time with her family. Crystal and her husband have been married for over 25 years. Her son, Austin, is getting married next year and they are excited to welcome Erin to their family. Crystal has 4 dogs and 2 cats and has been babysitting for a local family for 5 years.

Thank you, Crystal! Your work in Kentucky has helped families pick up the pieces of their home and rebuild.

Learn more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer at redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Amy Grimm

We all need reminders of the kindness in the world. For folks in Kentucky, you don’t have to look far. Just head on base at Fort Knox to see what Red Cross volunteers do for military families. Amy Grimm leads with a servant’s heart and wakes up with a mission in mind. She is the Helping Hands Warrior Warehouse Lead and Creator. Helping Hands is a Red Cross program available to provide food, household items, and clothing to assist military families with a financial need.

“I started volunteering with Red Cross 8 years ago, helping with Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) and casework,” said Amy. She then had a brilliant idea that has changed lives. “The Helping Hands location had to move. I asked the Fort Knox football team to come help… I used to run football and baseball boosters,” said Amy. She spoke to the Red Cross SAF Region Director, May Giulitto. “I said ‘what do you think about the Airman’s Attic? It’s a thrift store for the young and listed… What do you think about starting one for the Army?”

May and Amy brainstormed about what to call the new location. The name “Warrior Warehouse” was born, and the journey began. “This could be our groundbreaking thing. I grabbed my volunteers and said, ‘hey let’s start this thing,” explained Amy. As people moved, this was a great place for them to drop donations of furniture and clothing. “It turns into blessings for someone else who doesn’t have anything,” said Amy.

Amy and her fellow Red Cross volunteers help sort and process donations. The last Thursday of the month, there’s a free shop for active-duty military members. The last Friday of the month is open to Veterans, retirees, and dependents. The last Saturday of the month is their “yard sale” open to the public for anyone who can get on base. The team accepts cash donations for the Friday and Saturday shops.

Any funds raised by the shops goes back to support the Fort Knox American Red Cross Soldier Support Program. This includes services like the Helping Hands Food Pantry, Santa’s Workshop, Candy Cane Lane, the Loan Closet, and more. “It feeds my soul because I can give back,” said Amy.

One family Amy helped was moving from Alaska. They had 3 kids, 2 dogs, an SUV, and a trailer. They wrecked in North Dakota. “On the Fort Knox spouses page, the wife posted… She said I can’t get ahold of my command. I need uniforms, boots, and some items for my kids,” said Amy. “Their SUV was totaled. They were not able to recover items… We were the in between. We had [the items] ready to go by the time they arrived. We set this family up for success even though they just had the worst week of their life.”

It's hard work and long days, but Amy and her team love what they do. “It’s what wakes us up. Every one of our volunteers gets up and says: who can I help today and who can I serve?” Amy emphasized that her husband is her main support and cheerleader. They have been together 14 years and he reminds her to “[volunteer] until it’s not fun anymore.”

When she takes breaks and steps away from base, Amy loves to travel and go on hikes. She recently hiked the Appalachian Trail. Thank you for your volunteerism, Amy! We know you have touched the lives of many. 

Interested in learning more about our SAF work on base? Go to redcross.org/kentucky. Follow the Fort Knox Warrior Warehouse Facebook group at: Fort Knox US WarriorWarehouse

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Cathy Palmer-Ball

Cathy, right. Photos courtesy Cathy Palmer-Ball.

Cathy Palmer-Ball has worked with the American Red Cross in some capacity for 17 years. She decided to volunteer with the Red Cross because its mission was close to her heart.

“The main thread running through all I do for Red Cross is that I've always been in a helping role during my career,” said Cathy. “[T]his enables me to continue that work. It lets me give back to our community and people in their time of need.”

A Louisville Area Chapter volunteer, Cathy started out in blood services. She was also a Board Chair and a member of the WHEELS program advisory board for 10 years before she paused her volunteer career to raise her children and work full-time.

When she returned to volunteering in 2017, she returned to blood services and began volunteering with disaster services as she was retiring from a career in Social Work. Cathy loves being an ambassador at blood drives, greeting donors, managing the schedule, signing volunteers in, and working in the canteen.

“The most interesting part of this role is meeting new people and getting to know them and to show appreciation for the great gift of their blood donation which is always in great need!” said Cathy.

Cathy volunteers in several ways as a disaster volunteer. She deploys to disasters across the country to help with feeding, sheltering, going door-to-door in disaster-impacted areas providing damage assessment, and driving an Emergency Response Vehicle when needed. Most recently, Cathy has become a part of the Disaster Action Team (DAT) and responds to home fires in the Louisville Area Chapter. She is also the regional volunteer lead for onboarding and placing new volunteers, and participates in Sound the Alarm events, where Red Crossers install smoke alarms and provide information on fire safety and prevention to residents.

One of the most memorable experiences Cathy has had with the Red Cross was when she was deployed for three weeks to a Wisconsin army base to work with refugees fleeing Afghanistan.

“It was the opportunity of a lifetime, and we made it work as we went,” said Cathy.

As the Onboarding/Placement Regional Volunteer Lead, Cathy encourages others to volunteer however they can. She recruits volunteers often, and points to being able to help people during a low point in their lives as a reason to volunteer.

“I'm proud to be a Red Cross volunteer and I respect all volunteers and staff for their dedication, hard work and commitment,” said Cathy. “I wish everyone in a position to do so, would volunteer in some capacity.”

When she isn’t volunteering with the Red Cross, Cathy enjoys hiking with her friends and her dog, reading mystery novels, and going to brunch with her mother, friends, and daughters. She loves nature photography, traveling, and volunteers with the children at the Norton Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Thank you, Cathy, for your compassion for others and your dedication to the Red Cross mission!

Learn more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer at redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Helen Brown

Meet Helen Brown, a Community Volunteer Lead (CVL) and Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer with the American Red Cross Western Kentucky Chapter. Helen is no stranger to volunteering. She volunteers with FEMA through Hopkins County Emergency Management, and with her local police department and Citizens Police Unit. She was introduced to volunteering with the Red Cross when a tornado hit Providence in Webster County, Kentucky in 2002.

Helen, left. Photos courtesy Helen Brown.

“I went with a church group [to help] and saw all of the Red Cross personnel there,” said Helen. “I was amazed by how they were organized and handling everything.” While she was there, someone noticed her interest and asked if she would be interested in volunteering with the Red Cross.

Since then, Helen has deployed to national disasters and has responded locally to help with single and multifamily fires in Hopkins County. She is also a blood donor and drives an hour to Owensboro to donate at blood drives. Helen has volunteered more than 1,100 hours in various volunteer roles with the Red Cross.

Recently, Helen has also spent time volunteering as a CVL in Hopkins County with Misty Thomas, the Executive Director of the Western Kentucky Chapter, and fellow CVL Vivian McNeil. As a CVL, Helen mans the Red Cross office in Madisonville twice a week and helps Misty share information about the services the Red Cross provides with the Hopkins County community. “I get out into the community, into the organization club meetings, and make it well known in Hopkins County what’s available,” said Helen.

Helen has volunteered in multiple roles during disaster responses, including assisting with information and planning for damage assessment, outreach through external relations, and in mass care roles like sheltering, feeding, logistics and procurement. While Helen prefers to work behind the scenes, one of the things she says she enjoys most about volunteering is helping people in their moments of need.

“99% of the time I'm behind the scenes. It's not about me, […] it’s about me helping somebody,” she said. “It’s how I try to give back. I try to let people know that there are people who care.”

One of the things that sticks with Helen the most about her volunteer experiences is the appreciation from the people she helps. On a past deployment, Helen assisted with flooding in Eastern Kentucky, where she helped provide meals to a little girl and her family.

“Her snapshot is always in my mind,” she recalled. “She was so appreciative. […] And the joy, the appreciation that people will show even in their darkest hour, you know they're appreciative for what you're doing for them.”

Some of the most important things about volunteering, for Helen, are being able to reassure and comfort the people she meets, working to find them the information they need to move forward and letting them know that there are people that care.

Despite her wide experience as a volunteer, Helen stays humble: “I don't feel like I do a whole lot in my volunteer work, but I feel like it's my small way to give back, because I've been blessed.”

Helen thinks it’s important for others to volunteer because it helps with community preparedness. “It gives the community the ability to step in and care for one another,” she said. “It’s neighbors helping neighbors. There are always multiple areas that you can help.” 

When Helen isn’t volunteering, she’s spending time with her family and friends, including her multiple grandchildren. She enjoys reading, music, and traveling with her life partner.

Helen, your dedication to the Red Cross mission and our community inspires us! Thank you for everything that you do! If you are interested in learning more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.