National Volunteer Week – Kathleen Doughty

By Kevin Sandell, American Red Cross communications volunteer

As board chair, leading the efforts of an organization’s board of directors is not for the fainthearted. A lot is riding on the board’s ability to guide the organization to meeting its objectives. For the current Board Chair of the American Red Cross South Central Kentucky Chapter, serving with the chapter’s board is an opportunity for the chapter to reach new heights. 

“We have a big potential, but we’re just tapping that potential,” Kathleen Doughty, the chapter’s Board Chair, said.

Doughty, who has lived in Kentucky for nearly three decades, has served on the chapter’s board since July 2017. Her roles not only include facilitation of the board’s meetings, but also directing the efforts of the board to guide the local Red Cross chapter in serving its local communities.

Doughty said the board is comprised of 12 members from all walks of life. She previously worked in higher education and then a local home healthcare agency. After leaving the education and healthcare fields, she opened her own business, which specializes in laser-engraved, personalized gifts and holiday ornaments. 

Her father’s service as a firefighter paramedic in Massachusetts inspired her interest in emergency and disaster response at a young age. She served as an emergency dispatcher in South Carolina and Kentucky but wanted to be able to “see the action, instead of just hearing it on the phone and through the radio,” she said. At that time, women firefighters were not common in the fire service, so she decided to earn her paramedic certification, and eventually earned the rank of lieutenant in a paramedic department in Charleston, South Carolina. 

While working as an emergency dispatcher in Bowling Green, Kentucky, Doughty said a police officer in the department served on the local Red Cross board, which also intrigued her about board membership.

Serving in South Carolina, Doughty said the state endured several hurricanes, including Hurricane Hugo, a Category 4 hurricane. It was at that time where she saw the American Red Cross in action providing support to local affected communities. She said it is important for everyone to do something to mitigate the effects of disasters.

“Disasters don’t discriminate,” Doughty said. “People may be fine, and others lose everything. [Disasters] go where [they] want to go. Everybody needs to be doing something.”

Emphasizing the need for people to step up during disasters, she added, “There’s a lot of ways for people to volunteer. You can do as little as you want or as much as you want.”

Doughty, who is a “big blood donation supporter” said the South Central Kentucky Chapter wants to increase awareness and understanding of donating blood and the importance of working smoke alarms in homes and businesses. The Red Cross South Central Kentucky Chapter serves 22 counties in Kentucky, and serves as the Service to Armed Forces station at Fort Knox, the U.S. Army base south of Louisville.

Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteertoday

Third-Generation Volunteer, Rebecca Cartmell, Heads Disaster Response in Mason County

By Kelly Carroll, American Red Cross volunteer

Rebecca's mother 
and daughter

Rebecca Cartmell has been volunteering with the American Red Cross practically since birth. Her grandmother and mother were both volunteers, and she recalls going with her mother to board meetings and blood drives, where she took donors’ temperatures and transported typewriters into and out of the buildings. When Rebecca was young, a tornado hit her hometown of Maysville, Kentucky, and her mother helped with the recovery efforts. 

Later, as an adult, Rebecca was recruited to serve on the local Red Cross board. She was employed by the organization for a period of time. Currently, she is the Mason County Disaster Action Team Lead, a completely volunteer role. When a disaster occurs—such as a flood, home fire or storm—she contacts the people affected on behalf of the Red Cross and helps in their recovery.

Rebecca and her daughter before
a Pillowcase Project presentation

Rebecca tries to contact families within two hours, and often within 30 minutes, to “find out what their needs are and see what we can do to help.” Often, with a single-family fire (the most common type of disaster), Rebecca arrives when the fire department is still on the scene and “the people are standing on their lawn.” The Red Cross provides resources and services and also connects facilities to other organizations that can help.

Rebecca acknowledged that the grave nature of her work with the Red Cross can be “emotionally taxing,” but was quick to point out the sense of accomplishment she gets from the role. “You feel good about helping other people,” she said.

In her many years of service to the Red Cross, Rebecca has served in many ways. In addition to disaster response, she has canvassed neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms in homes, taught CPR, visited schools for “The Pillowcase Project,” a disaster preparedness program for elementary-aged children, and facilitated communication with people deployed in the armed forces.

Rebecca’s family legacy of serving with the Red Cross continues with her 33-year-old daughter, Ellen Cartmell, who currently serves on the local board and disaster action team. In the past, Ellen worked for the Red Cross in Washington, D.C., and the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies in Geneva, Switzerland. Through innumerable acts of service, big and small, their family has served through the Red Cross for four generations and counting!

Look for the Helpers: Dawn Scholl

They say during times of devastation to look for the helpers. Look for the helpers who pick up the pieces, lend a hand, offer a warm embrace, and sit with you. Dawn Scholl is a helper. She is a member of our Disaster Action Team (DAT) and a CPR instructor within our American Red Cross western Kentucky chapter and volunteers at the Warrior Warehouse on Fort Knox, a program within our Service to the Armed Forces (SAF). She is an Army civilian retiree and military spouse.

“As a former instructor for the Army, I love teaching. When hands only CPR started, I said I’d like to do that… It makes me feel good to teach somebody how to save a life. It’s fun and rewarding all at the same time,” said Dawn. “With disaster, I’ve gone out on several DAT calls… I wear my vest proudly. I get out there and see the devastation. The relief on a families’ faces when we pull up; They know the Red Cross is going to help them one way or another.” Our DAT teams respond to personal disasters like house fires. These teams offer support and resources to families so they can recover.

She admires the reach of the hands only CPR classes. “I have taught 10-year-olds up to 80+-year-olds. People have shared with me their devastation of not being able to do hands only CPR in the moment. Now they can. They are so proud.” Her favorite memory is teaching a class in Bowling Green, Kentucky. “It was for international students. There were 6 different interpreters in the room. I had to be animated. It was a joy seeing all the different languages coming together to learn.”

Dawn talked with us about growing up with little income and how that’s grown her servant’s heart. “It’s crucial for all of us to do a little something… The Toys for Tots program was there for me when I was a little girl.” She has volunteered with Habitat for Humanity, Feeding America, Lioness Clubs, and the Salvation Army. Dawn’s husband, Scott, is a member of Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association® (CVMA®). She is an auxiliary member. “It’s veterans helping veterans. We’re all over the country. We ride motorcycles, it’s comradery. It’s fundraising. All the money goes back to local veterans,” Dawn replied.

Dawn was the CVMA® auxiliary state representative for 3 years and the previous president of the Federally Employed Women (FEW) Gold Vault Chapter. FEW is an organization that works as an advocacy group dedicated to promoting equality for women and addressing concerns for women within the federal workforce.

With CVMA®, Dawn and Scott have been a part of sentimental funeral escorts. “We assist in doing the escorts, bring back those soldiers and take them to their final resting place. We ride our motorcycles and go behind the hearse,” Dawn explained. It’s very emotional and a real honor to meet the families. Sometimes generations have passed. Now they’re finding their loved ones remains and bringing them home. 

Dawn is a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed and selected by the Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky. “[Volunteering] is something that I enjoy. Giving back to the community is important,” said Dawn.

Scott is set to retire in 4 years, they have 8 children, many grandchildren and love traveling to see them across the states. Dawn has a green thumb, regularly tending to her greenhouse and garden.

You can learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteertoday

Volunteer Appreciation Month - John Sternberg

John Sternberg has a long history with the Red Cross. John did community service with the Red Cross during his high school days, and estimates that he’s donated over 5 gallons of blood since age 18. After he retired from the Department of Health and Human Services, he decided to get involved as a Red Cross volunteer.

John, right. Photo courtesy John Sternberg.

He joined the Red Cross Bluegrass Area Chapter in 2021 and began volunteering with the Disaster Action Team (DAT) responding to home fires in the Lexington area. He recently got a new job, so he has not been able to deploy as much as he’d like, but he was able to respond to the train derailment in Eastern Kentucky last year and has qualified to become a sheltering supervisor during disasters.

“I think it’s important to be able to do something when tragedy occurs,” said John. “The best outlet I could find was with the Red Cross.”

Last year, John also got involved with our Hands-Only CPR initiative. Hands-only CPR, or compression-only CPR, is a method of providing quick life-saving measures to someone suffering a cardiac event that only involves providing chest compressions. This process encourages the quick push of blood throughout the body, to ensure the heart is getting the blood it needs to function. John and other hands-only CPR instructors provide instruction across the Kentucky region, including at offices, schools and health fairs. Hands-Only CPR courses do not provide a CPR certification, but they can help familiarize beginners with the signs of a cardiac event. While they do not take the place of a full CPR/First Aid course, Hands-Only CPR courses provide the basic tools a person can use to help gain precious time for someone experiencing a cardiac event until help arrives.

John is a coordinator for the program, and both teaches hands-only CPR courses and recruits and manages hands-only CPR instructors. Part of what made John agree to take on the role was a grant the American Red Cross Kentucky Region received from LG&E KU to support teaching hands-only CPR in communities that need it.

Since the start of the hands-only CPR initiative, the Red Cross has trained more than 500 people across the state in hands-only CPR, 90% of which is youth. The South Central Kentucky chapter has also taught the program in different languages and represented 15 different nationalities.

As a certified First Aid/CPR instructor, John’s happy for the chance to reach communities and train more people with the initiative: “The nice part is to get to the areas where they can't make the monetary or time commitment to do the full CPR course.”

Moving forward, John wants to see the program grow and recruit more hands-only CPR instructors.

Thank you, John, for all you do! If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday

Three Decades of Volunteerism: Cindy Thompson

 By Kevin Sandell, American Red Cross communications volunteer 

Cindy Thompson (middle), stands with Dan Wirth and Jennifer Adrio outside of a mobile Emergency Operations Center during the last solar eclipse in August 2017 in Kentucky.

Lifelong Kentucky resident, Cindy Thompson, has volunteered with the American Red Cross for over three decades, and said she’s passionate about helping those in need. Over 90% of the humanitarian work of the Red Cross is conducted by volunteers, which brings many benefits, she said.

“Volunteering … offers numerous benefits, both for our community and for us as volunteers,” Cindy said. “We make a difference as volunteers; we directly impact people’s lives during emergencies. We also work on meaningful projects such as smoke alarm installations.”

Cindy serves as a volunteer Disaster Program Manager with the American Red Cross Western Kentucky Chapter, and her husband is also a Red Cross volunteer. She said the most interesting aspect of her volunteer work is “working with [individuals and families needing assistance],” but added that there’s a lot of “late-night computer work,” involved in her role.

“[I’ve gained] friendships with other Red Cross volunteers, first responders, Red Cross staff, and those who have been helped by the Red Cross,” she said.

Regional Disaster Cycle Services teams manage emergency response, relief, and recovery across geographical regions. Disaster Program Managers collaborate with other Red Cross staff and departments that support the DCS priorities and support the engagement and development of other volunteers. They serve as a vital link in the disaster response mission of the American Red Cross.

The Red Cross Western Kentucky Chapter is headquartered in Owensboro, Kentucky, and serves 20 Kentucky counties and five Illinois counties. The chapter also has field offices in Paducah, Hopkinsville, and Madisonville, all in Kentucky.

Cindy said when she’s not volunteering with the Red Cross, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, thrifting, and doing Zumba after work. She also serves as a volunteer clergywoman at Baptist Health Hospital in Paducah, Kentucky. She currently works for Edward Jones in Paducah.

The Western Kentucky Chapter falls under the Red Cross Kentucky Region. The American Red Cross is not a government agency, and relies on donations of time, money, and resources from individuals in the local community, corporate partners, and like-minded foundations to do its work.

Red Cross Services are provided throughout Kentucky thanks to the generous commitment of thousands of local volunteers, like Cindy. 

Volunteering is ‘a Blessing’ for Lance Mann, Chair of Louisville’s Board

By Kelly Carroll, American Red Cross volunteer

For nearly 25 years, through moving states and jobs, Lance Mann has enthusiastically volunteered with the American Red Cross. Currently, Lance serves as the chair of the Louisville Area Chapter Board of Directors, a role he describes as “a blessing” and a fun and valuable experience. 

Lance started volunteering in the early 2000s in Atlanta as a blood donor to “do something good in the community.” When he moved to Lexington in 2007, he volunteered through his employer, helping with accounting, technology and fundraising, a role that brought him closer to the mission of the Red Cross. When he came to Louisville in 2013, he served on the biomedical volunteer board.

He eventually became the chair of a combined humanitarian and biomedical board. While Lance served on the board, it made significant improvements to its operations that had an “amazing impact.” “Now, the Kentucky chapter biomedical operations are one of the top operating groups in the country. We beat our goals every year,” he said.

Lance Mann, second from right,
with Bingham Fellows

In 2022, leaders asked Lance to become the incoming chair of the Board of Directors. As he finishes the first year of the two-year term, he said it “has been a blessing to be able to experience all the rest that the Red Cross has” to offer, citing the successful smoke alarm campaigns, building construction, effective disaster responses and Wrapped in Red Gala. “It’s been quite a bit of fun.”

Lance shared a few of the Kentucky region’s achievements. Following the devastating tornadoes in Bowling Green and Western Kentucky in 2021, they received a request for blood products that same day. “We were able to make it happen because we had the supply and we had the team who could make it happen,” he said.

The organization’s “Sound the Alarm” campaign has saved lives by installing smoke alarms throughout Kentucky and Southern Indiana at no cost to homeowners. The Red Cross estimates the number of lives saved since the campaign’s inception in 2014 to be in the low 90s. “I think the Kentucky Red Cross team is one of the best in the country. I’m just grateful to be able to learn from them…,” Lance said.

Lance is the father of four children and works at Dean Dorton in Louisville. He and his wife both prioritize volunteer work. “It gives us energy,” he said of volunteering. He emphasized he would “wholeheartedly” recommend volunteering to others. To back up his recommendation, he cites the lifelong friends he’s made through serving with the Red Cross and the satisfaction of giving back to the local community.

Amy Hurd: The Voice Women Need

Amy and her husband

“There’s room for everyone… A woman is not taking a man’s space. We just need to make more room. We need a bigger table. We need more voices.” Amy Hurd was in corporate America for almost 30 years and started the first women’s resource group at US Bank. “The women I’ve worked with have some of the highest scores in the company. People want to work for them. As a result of that, we significantly moved up the number of women in leadership positions.” By the time she retired, there were over 800 women in the resource group, networking and lifting each other up.

Mentorship and training for women has been a passion for Amy. She’s been able to apply that to her volunteer work with Red Cross. She’s going on four years as a Community Volunteer Leader (CVL), providing resources on leadership to our executive directors. “In those 4 years, our state has had fires, tornadoes, floods. My one question is: How are you doing? Are you okay? How can you lead this work if you are not taking care of your own mental health and wellbeing?”

Amy has been a key component of navigating conflict management. “What I’ve learned with people at the Red Cross is so many of them have a big heart. Where I come from in corporate America, there is more forcefulness around tough or uncomfortable conversations. I’ve noticed at Red Cross that conflict is viewed as negative. My perspective is conflict is healthy. When I understand where you are coming from and what we disagree on, we can move forward. I’ve helped the executive team understand conflict is not a bad thing.”

She spends her time coaching our team and building their confidence. “I’m on calls giving them tips on their public speaking and helping them build a meeting or agenda. We do a lot of work around StrengthsFinder,” said Amy. Through her career, she has lived in Arizona and Nevada. She was in Las Vegas during the 2017 shooting at a country music festival. “I was there that day and the days following. I saw the community come together in a way I have never seen. I don’t want to wait for a disaster to happen to give back. Giving back to your community is critically important. It’s what makes a community strong. Looking out for each other. We are in this life together,” said Amy.

You could say volunteering is a family affair for Amy. She is a O+ blood donor. Her husband donates blood with us every 60 days “without fail.” Her mother-in-law donated blood and volunteered with us for over 50 years. “I sincerely could not think of another organization that has the impact in the community like the Red Cross,” said Amy. She keeps all her mother-in-law’s blood donor pins and awards.

Amy and her husband love to travel, visiting over 40 countries together. They would love to live outside the country one day and explore volunteer work with the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. They have a soft spot for rescue dogs and love spoiling their dog, Beatrix. #VolunteerAppreciationMonth

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: Tracy Counts

This #VolunteerAppreciationMonth, we are taking a moment to recognize our volunteers in the Kentucky Region! Meet Tracy Counts, Community Volunteer Lead (CVL) for the Red Cross Eastern Kentucky Chapter. Tracy has lived in eastern Kentucky for 30 years and works at Morehead State University as a Transfer Advisor and Recruiter.

Tracy began volunteering with Red Cross in 2015, after an apartment building fire. “My husband’s office building was right beside the fire… the police officer said he needed to find somewhere to get these people to safety. I said, ‘I can handle that.’ We turned our church fellowship hall into a shelter. We were the logical choice because of space and proximity. We housed 41 people in our hall for 10 days. Fed over 70 people for every meal,” said Tracy. She is a proud member and leader of First Presbyterian Church in Hazard, Kentucky.

Photo courtesy Tracy Counts

When deadly floods struck eastern Kentucky in 2022, Tracy was up all night. “It was hell on earth. When people were showing me where water lines rose in their house, I couldn’t believe it,” said Tracy. “[The church] started taking donations for clothes and supplies. Friday evening, Perry County had no water. We had to open church for sheltering. We ended up with 29 people who were rescued by the national guard. They had been out in elements for 2 days, almost 3. All of them had been rescued by helicopter.”

One thing Tracy tries to do is let people know about Red Cross resources. “Appalachia tends to be self-reliant. I let them know that it doesn’t hurt to reach out. As a friend of mine has told me: let people love on you,” said Tracy. The church is now the clothing and household supply drop off point for the long-term recovery program for Perry County. Their latest program is helping people restore their canning and gardening.

“I have cleaning buckets and supplies in my car. I have dropped them off at places that looks like it needed it… We have worked with areas to put on fall festivals so the kids would have something else to think about. We have done laundry detergent drop off at laundry facilities that were open, and donated pet food to animal shelters,” said Tracy. She says the most important thing is sticking together and understanding Appalachian culture. “Your neighbors helping you and understanding your values is the biggest blessing you can have.”

Tracy is honored to work with the Red Cross because of the quick response we have. “In eastern Kentucky, [Red Cross] are going to be the first ones there. They will help. No one was prepared for this type of catastrophe. Red Cross was the first on scene…. That’s the team environment we all need to be part of. If you want someone to be there with you in that moment, it’s the Red Cross.”

Thank you for your work, Tracy! The work you do continues to impact the lives of people in eastern Kentucky. 

Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteertoday

Volunteer Appreciation Month: John Sternberg

Bluegrass Area Chapter volunteer John Sternberg has a long history with the Red Cross. Originally from Louisville, KY, John did community service with the Red Cross during his high school days by working in the print shop at the Louisville Area Chapter office. John has also been donating blood since he was 18 years old and estimates that, as of today, he’s donated over 5 gallons.

John (right), with fellow Red Cross volunteers.
Photo credit: John Sternberg

John was a federal agent with the Department of Health and Human Services for 25 years and served as an air marshal for 5 months after 9/11. His career took him to Ohio and Georgia, until he moved back to Kentucky in 1997. After he retired, he decided to get involved as a volunteer.

“I think it’s important to be able to do something when tragedy occurs,” said John. “The best outlet I could find was with the Red Cross.”

He joined the Red Cross Bluegrass Area Chapter in 2021 and began volunteering with the Disaster Action Team (DAT) responding to home fires in the Lexington area.

“I interviewed people over the phone and did training on the computer,” said John. “Then I started meeting with people to do the DAT local responses.”

John has deployed to disasters several times since he became a volunteer. He deployed to the tornado response in Western Kentucky in 2021 and the flood response in Eastern Kentucky in 2022. He has also deployed to Puerto Rico, Florida, California, and Texas to assist with everything from flooding and hurricanes to tornadoes.

John shared that his roles vary when he deploys.

Photo credit: John Sternberg

“I did [sheltering] for like 4 days in Eastern Kentucky, but then switched to distribution of emergency supplies,” said John. “And when they sent me to Puerto Rico, it was actually for damage assessment.”

John went on to explain he usually works in sheltering or logistics during a disaster response. As part of his chapter volunteer activities, John responds to home fires and recently taught his first First Aid/CPR class in the Bluegrass Area Chapter.

When asked why he volunteers, John said it was because he wanted to be able to give back: “I’ve been blessed in my life. To be able to give back and to do something in a time of need, just to be able to get down there and be involved.”

“We need to look out for each other,” John added. “It doesn’t have to be a big thing. It could be collecting money and donating it, it could be to giving your time. There’s always going to be that need, whether it’s a fire or natural disaster, just to be able to help those in need.”

Thank you, John, for your dedication to the Red Cross mission! Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteer.

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Lisa Maples

Lisa Maples joined our volunteer team at a trying time. She was on call the day after flooding inundated eastern Kentucky in the summer of 2022. “Red Cross has on their website to turn compassion into action…The Red Cross volunteers are compassionate people who are working hard to do more than feel sorry for someone. We are turning it into action. I can be a part of that,” said Lisa.

Volunteering for a little over a year, Lisa is motivated to answer the call. She is a retired nurse where most of her time was spent helping emergency services. She enjoyed the fast-paced work of helping people in the middle of a crisis. Once the COVID-19 pandemic spread, she was looking for virtual volunteer opportunities. “I found the Duty Officer position with Red Cross. It was a perfect fit. I get to interact with [individuals and families] in their greatest time of need… I’m doing the same thing I’ve done my whole life, just in a different role,” said Lisa.

Lisa describes the Duty Officer role as detective work. “People call the 1-800 number after they have a fire. That call dispatches to me. I go in and read the information, and then I reach out and see exactly what happened: how many people were involved, if they have pets, have they lost prescriptions or glasses? Do they have a safe place to stay?” She then connects with the fire department in the area to make sure they have all the correct information, then calls the local Red Cross team to go provide on-site support.

“It’s challenging, but I love it!” said Lisa. “It keeps me sharp. I’m looking out for the [families] and getting their needs met. I look forward to the days I’m on duty.” Lisa assists with the Bluegrass Area and Eastern Kentucky Chapters. She was pivotal during the initial response of the eastern Kentucky floods, answering the phones and keeping people calm. “It was total devastation. People had lost loved ones, pets, cars, houses. That day, we were doing what we needed to do. Taking the calls, giving them comfort. It was a hard day but rewarding because I got to be involved in helping folks.”

Outside of volunteering, Lisa enjoys camping with her husband, Greg. Their family has a permanent camp site on Lake Cumberland with a boat. They camp and boat with the whole family: their son, Mike with his wife, Teresa, their 2 grandchildren, Liam and Lucas, and their 2 Norfolk Terriers, Cooper and Keegan.

Learn how you can become a Red Cross volunteer: redcross.org/volunteertoday

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Augusto Beltran

We often joke that Red Cross volunteers wear many hats. Red Cross South Central Kentucky (SCKY) Board Member, Augusto Beltran, is no exception. Volunteering with the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Augusto assists with the Peruvian and Spanish Red Cross. “I came from Peru. My family is from Spain. I grew up in both spaces,” said Augusto.

Augusto started volunteering with the American Red Cross in Maryland 8 years ago. “I came here to learn English. I was a bilingual instructor, I helped translate in the aftermath of house fires,” said Augusto. He moved to Kentucky 4 years ago and became a Red Cross SCKY board member, supporting home fire campaigns and training CPR/First Aid classes. “I support different communities that don’t speak English. I’m a volunteer fire fighter,” said Augusto.

When deadly tornados tore through western Kentucky in December of 2021, Augusto was on scene helping with search and rescue. “I helped the firefighters. I discovered that peopled needed help but didn’t know how to speak English. I remember thinking, ‘I can do more than this.’ I started helping with Red Cross Community Engagement and Partnerships (CEP).” Augusto remembers a woman thanking him for making her feel seen. “She said, ‘thank you so much. We don’t have a voice because nobody understands. We don’t speak English.”

Augusto also works with the United Nations in Human Rights. “I help with human trafficking efforts. Here [in the USA] it’s happening, but nobody sees it. It’s dangerous. It’s important to know about that and educate people to see the signs. [Human trafficking victims] are prisoners and they aren’t free to talk. We identify where it can happen. We show people how to see and prepare for situations.”

With the Spanish Red Cross, Augusto worked on restoring family links. When disaster would strike and people would look for their family members in the hospitals, he would help create that communication. With the Peruvian Red Cross, Augusto worked on his emergency certifications. He remembers going out with search and rescue dogs to find families after an earthquake hit. “I cannot explain the pain they experienced. I just tried to help. We walked for full days without any rest trying to find survivors,” said Augusto.

He has also worked with the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), which is an agency of the United Nations responsible for providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. Augusto lives in Bowling Green, Kentucky with his wife, Patricia. Patricia is an infectious disease doctor who was pivotal during the COVID-19 outbreak. “I am so proud of her. We complement each other. We believe helping people is the best way to better the community,” said Augusto.

In his free time, Augusto likes to travel and go surfing. Here in Kentucky, he rides horses and takes classes in Karate and Taekwondo. Thank you for your humanitarian efforts, Augusto! The Kentucky team is so grateful for your leadership! #VolunteerAppreciationMonth

Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteertoday