Service Above Self: Jim Rogers

Written by Remy Kennedy
Photos courtesy of Jim Rogers

Jim Rogers shared a favorite quote with us: “Rivers do not drink their own water. Trees do not eat their own fruit. The sun does not shine on itself. And flowers do not spread their fragrance for themselves. Living for others is a rule of nature…” It resonates with him because of his beliefs around volunteering. “I believe you have to give back. A lot of people want to, but they don’t know how to get involved. Everybody I’ve asked to volunteer has always done it,” said Jim. 

Working at Hilliard Lyons as the COO (Chief Operating Officer) for 30 years, Jim spends his retirement time helping the community. He serves on the board of directors at the University of Louisville, is a trustee for the Kentucky Colonels, and he’s a previous board member for our Red Cross Kentucky Region. Jim now chairs our Red Cross disaster committee. He has also volunteered at the Neighborhood House and Lincoln Heritage Boy Scouts of America in Louisville, Kentucky. 

Jim is passionate about our organization because “Red Cross basically saved both my kids’ lives. My son had a total blood transfusion at birth. My daughter in her early teens also had a blood transfusion for different reasons. For my son, it was life and death. It was the last option available… It was Red Cross blood donors that saved their lives.” 

A Portland neighborhood native, growth opportunities in the west end is part of Jim’s mission. He led the initiative to install smoke alarms in Portland neighborhoods as part of our Sound the Alarm campaign. He teaches CPR & First Aid classes, and almost all staff at the Neighborhood House have been certified thanks to Jim’s efforts. He believes education is the key for kids who live in underserved areas. “I mean education holistically. I think trade schools are wonderful. Not every kid needs or should go to college… Growing up in a family business, education could mean starting your own business. Betterment of yourself.” 

Jim frequently gathers with his high school classmates, collectively raising funds for educational tools benefiting youth on the west end. “Everywhere, I believe you can’t be what you can’t see. These kids, they don’t see jobs at Red Cross. They don’t see a bank. A 17-year-old shadowed me at my office one day. I had her come down to sit in operations, sit in the IT department. She saw people of color doing all these jobs she never knew existed,” he said. 

Jim has deployed with Red Cross to Texas, Louisiana, South Carolina, and Kentucky. “I’m one who wants to be boots on the ground. I don’t want to sit in the office and supervise. I want to be out helping people. Feeding them, bringing them supplies, doing disaster assessment,” he explained. His favorite part? Developing bonds with people. “When I got back from feeding a church in New Orleans, all the families in the church got together and sent me a huge Louisiana care package. Beignets, chicory coffee, t-shirts, and pictures. Just a thank you for me being down there. I developed all these friendships.” 

Jim and his family

American Red Cross volunteers recognized for service at Fort Knox ceremony

Story and photos by Kevin Sandell, Communications Volunteer

FORT KNOX, Ky. – Over 20 volunteers who serve within the American Red Cross Kentucky Region were recognized for their service earlier this fall, during a lunchtime ceremony at Fort Knox, the sprawling U.S. Army base south of Louisville. Many of the recognized volunteers had served hundreds or even thousands of hours to Red Cross chapters throughout the state.

Fort Knox is home to the Warrior Warehouse, a function of the Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program, and is a building where service members and their families can shop for donated household, clothing, and food items. The warehouse is also the location for the annual “Santa’s Workshop” on base that provides free, donated toys to children of U.S. service members stationed at Fort Knox during the holidays.

One volunteer, who was recognized as the Volunteer of the Year for her 14-year service to the South Central Kentucky Chapter of the Red Cross, said the honor is humbling.

Deann Burns (center) received the Volunteer of the Year award at a
Red Cross volunteer recognition ceremony, Aug. 13, at Fort Knox, Ky.
Burns has served as a volunteer for 14 years
with the Red Cross Kentucky Region. 

“I don’t volunteer for the recognition, or for anticipation of an award, or to try and achieve some elusive number of volunteer hours that are tallied each month with the right to brag,” said Deann Burns, a spouse of a former soldier stationed at Fort Knox. “I volunteer to help someone that may be experiencing some challenges and who needs a little extra help, a kind word or a smile, and to make it a little easier for them to make it through the month.” 

During the ceremony, Burns received a silver platter engraved with her name from members of the American Red Cross Kentucky Region and later described her start with the organization. She began volunteering for the Red Cross in 1981 when her husband was stationed in Grafenwoehr, Germany. When she and her husband arrived at Fort Knox in 2010, there were no Red Cross-hosted blood drives on post, and she was initially asked to be a Blood Donor Ambassador to spearhead the program on base.

Five years later, she was asked to be the Santa’s Workshop Coordinator, where she directed volunteer recruitment, toy donations and coordination with off-base stores and charities, marketing and promotion efforts, and distributing toys to Fort Knox families. Her first year in the job, the Santa’s Workshop provided toys and books to over 200 military families. In the years since, the Santa’s Workshop program has grown in popularity, and nearly 300 children are helped every year.

Another volunteer, who achieved 10,956 hours of volunteer service to the Red Cross services on Fort Knox, said her extensive volunteerism came from being an “empty nester” and wanting to give back to the Red Cross.

Amy Grimm (center), a volunteer with the Red Cross at Fort Knox, Ky.,
earned nearly 11,000 hours of volunteer service, and was recognized
for her service during a volunteer ceremony, Aug. 13, at Fort Knox. 

“[Being recognized] is not what drives us to do what we do, but it's nice to be recognized,” said Amy Grimm, a Fort Knox volunteer and military spouse. “All my kids left at the same time and I just didn’t know what to do with my hands … It worked out perfectly that I could dive into this resource that I’m really trying to assist families with versus staying at home and doing nothing.”

Grimm added that she’s a firm believer of “doing something positive” with her time and that it “fills [my] soul.”

A Red Cross youth volunteer, Gabe Fulkerson, was recognized during the ceremony for his outstanding work with the International Humanitarian Law Youth Action Campaign. The Glendale, Kentucky native is a first-year aeronautics student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Florida, and said he volunteers for multiple reasons.

“I volunteer with the Red Cross to improve myself as a person and because I enjoy helping people,” Fulkerson said.

The International Human Law Youth Action Campaign empowers high school and college-aged students to learn about laws that govern armed conflict, known as international humanitarian law. Youth volunteers educate the American public on humanitarian law through peer-to-peer education campaigns and training.

Fulkerson added that other students should volunteer with the Red Cross because doing so “shows leadership, cooperation, and compassion, all of which are skills colleges are looking for.”

Other volunteers recognized during the ceremony received Exceptional Volunteer Service Awards and Time-in-Service Awards for volunteering with Red Cross chapters across the state.

Red Cross volunteers from throughout the Kentucky Region were
recognized for exceptional volunteer service during a
recognition ceremony, Aug.13, at Fort Knox. 

Disaster Action Team Volunteer, Peter Waldrab, Says Helping Others is 'Rewarding'

Written by Kelly Carroll. Photos provided by Peter Waldrab.

Every day dedicated Red Cross volunteers in Kentucky help their neighbors recover from disasters. When the unthinkable happens, like a house fire, these volunteers assist disaster victims in big and small ways. Peter Waldrab is one such dedicated volunteer. 

Peter and his wife, Alicia, are Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers who meet with families just after they've experienced a home fire. Peter said, "We meet with families, talk with them, and collect information to help case workers get families assistance with recovery." Peter and Alicia serve with the Red Cross in addition to maintaining day jobs and raising three children.  

Peter is the VP of Electric Distributions Operations for Louisville Gas and Electric Company (LG&E) and Kentucky Utilities Company (KU). In this role, he leads a team responsible for keeping the lights on in about one million Kentucky homes. Peter explained that because his work keeps him very busy on weekdays, he often volunteers with the Red Cross on weekends.  

Peter started volunteering with the Red Cross Kentucky Region in 2023 after moving to Louisville from Philadelphia in 2022. He explained that supporting others through volunteering is important to him. He emigrated to the United States from the United Kingdom at a young age, and because he received "invaluable helping hands along the way," he wanted to help others. He has previously volunteered with Habitat for Humanity and food banks.  

In addition to helping him give back to the community, volunteering with the Red Cross has also helped Peter get to know the communities in Louisville. "I've met some incredible people volunteering," Peter said. "It's incredible to see how people come together for one another in a difficult time. I routinely see neighbors who were strangers before a fire occurs jump in to support one another in recovery." 

Peter recalled responding to a recent home fire in Indiana where the family lost everything. "The smoke alarms went off, and the family had time to evacuate, but they only got out of the house with the pajamas that they were wearing, their dog, and their cellphones.  Everything else—wallets, cars, etc—was destroyed in the fire." Peter explained that even though the family had insurance to replace their things, they needed short-term help. They had lost their wallets and cars and couldn't get around or buy the things they needed for the next few days. "We were able to provide some valuable information and cover their immediate needs. It was a huge relief for the family, and a rewarding moment for my wife and I," Peter said.  

DAT volunteers like Peter and Alicia make an immeasurable impact on the lives of the people they serve. Thank you, Peter, Alicia, and all the other DAT volunteers, for your continued service! 

A better night’s sleep for Fort Knox soldiers, courtesy of Tempur-Pedic and the American Red Cross

By Kevin Sandell, American Red Cross Volunteer

A good night's rest is a proven way to improve health and wellness. It’s especially imperative for U.S. service members as they serve and protect America at locations around the world.

Capt. Kyle Hinzman, commander of the 34th and 905th Military
Police Detachments on Fort Knox, secures a new mattress
atop a vehicle at the American Red Cross’ Warrior Warehouse
on post, Feb. 9. 

Tempur-Pedic and the American Red Cross Kentucky Region partnered to donate 80 new mattresses to U.S. service members and families stationed at Fort Knox, the large U.S. Army post south of Louisville. The in-kind donation from the Lexington, Ky.-based mattress manufacturer allowed soldiers and families in need to receive a new mattress at the Red Cross Warrior Warehouse on post. A group of military police soldiers stationed at Fort Knox even helped load the mattresses into each vehicle waiting in line.

For Yvonne Plough, the Red Cross’ Volunteer Engagement Lead at the Warrior Warehouse, seeing soldiers volunteer to help those in need is a tangible way to pay it forward. “[This is] soldiers helping soldiers. We all had a consideration at one point where we needed help, so when we receive help, we should give it forward,” Plough said.

Tempur-Pedic donated the queen-sized mattresses to the American Red Cross to distribute to service members or their families on Fort Knox, and has done so for several years, according to John Matthews, a Red Cross Senior Regional Program Specialist. The Red Cross works with unit chaplains and commanders to nominate enlisted service members E-6 and below in their units to receive a new mattress. Soldiers in the paygrades of E-1 to E-4 are junior enlisted service members, and soldiers in the paygrades of E-5 to E-6 are noncommissioned officers who typically manage junior enlisted service members in day-to-day operations. Each nominated soldier must verify they will not resell the mattresses, nor will they receive more than one mattress per year. 

Soldiers from the 34th and 905th Military Police Detachments
at Fort Knox, Ky. haul new mattresses from inside the
American Red Cross Warrior Warehouse, Feb. 9.

According to a Tempur-Pedic press release from January 2023, the company has donated more than 228,000 mattresses to charities since 2011, including veterans homes and military bases, homeless shelters, fire stations, and the American Red Cross.

A group of eight soldiers from the post’s 34th Military Police Detachment and the 905th Military Working Dog Detachment volunteered to help move the mattresses from inside the warehouse and load them into each waiting vehicle. For 1st Lt. Davis Johns, the Executive Officer for both detachments, the chance to volunteer with the Red Cross helps others understand their profession better.

“I feel like it’s part of our job being military police,” Johns said. “Our job is to protect and serve the people of the installation, and this is just one of the ways we can do that, even if it’s not in a law enforcement capacity.”

The commander of both detachments, Capt. Kyle Hinzman, said many of the detachments’ soldiers have volunteered with previous Red Cross volunteer opportunities on post, and relished the chance to do so again distributing mattresses. He said at least four soldiers in the unit have earned the military’s Outstanding Volunteer Service Medal in the last two years for their volunteerism efforts.

Soldiers with the 34th and 905th Military Police Detachments
at Fort Knox, Ky., load a mattress into a waiting vehicle during
 a free mattress distribution event at Fort Knox, Feb. 9.

“Doing something like this gives a [better] view that we can be part of positive support to the community as opposed to just showing up at someone’s house when they’re having a really bad day,” Hinzman said.

As she and the other soldiers loaded mattresses into vehicles, Staff Sgt. Joann Cassitty, an operations noncommissioned officer with the 34th MP Detachment, said she and her soldiers are “always ready to help.” She called the American Red Cross’ programs on Fort Knox “amazing,” and wished that every installation had comparable services.

By day’s end, all 80 mattresses were claimed - tied onto vehicle roofs or slid into trunks, much to the visible satisfaction of those receiving one.

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.

---

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.

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.

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Richard Peters

As a firefighter of 20 years and a Hardin County native, Richard Peters thought volunteering with the American Red Cross South Central Kentucky Chapter was a perfect fit after he retired.

Photos courtesy Richard Peters

“When I left the fire service, I still felt the need to help folks out in their worst times,” said Richard. “As a firefighter, we relied on the Red Cross for client assistance and also to be there for us and our folks with the canteen services they provided.”

Richard has been volunteering with Red Cross in Elizabethtown for going on four years. Starting out, he was doing intake for residents impacted by disasters and volunteering as part of canteen services. As time went on, he moved into the role of Duty Officer. “As the duty officer […], I field the calls from the National Red Cross line and assign them to the local case workers.”

Richard also helps maintain the fleet that is assigned to the chapter office and makes sure that they are kept ready for service. He helps train new volunteers to fulfill the Red Cross mission. “I have learned that everyone learns at different paces and are willing to do different aspects of the job,” said Richard.

For Richard, volunteering is interesting because of how different each situation can be.

“Everyone reacts differently to a stranger coming in to help,” he said. “Dealing with the emotions of each individual that is involved can be a challenge, but it is a very rewarding challenge in the end.”

One of the most memorable things Richard has experienced with the Red Cross was responding as the tornado that went through Bowling Green, KY in 2021.

“Seeing the diversity in one town and not having an idea that there were so many different nationalities living in the town,” Richard explained. “I remember sitting and talking with an individual that had twin babies and having to have everything I said repeated through an interpreter.”

For Richard, volunteering with the Red Cross means being willing to lend a hand and being able to lift some weight off someone’s shoulders. “If I am able to assist somebody having a bad day, then I have fulfilled the calling that has been placed upon my life,” said Richard.

When he isn’t volunteering with the Red Cross, Richard enjoys working with people and helping in any way that he can. He has spent many hours with volunteer organizations, from the food bank at his church to being a firefighter, and he tries to make a difference however he can.

“If I can help someone, that is all I am out to do,” said Richard. “I just have the heart of a servant and God had placed a calling on my life to do so.”

Thank you, Richard, for all you do! Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteertoday

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: Michael Randles

Michael and Mylie.
Photos courtesy Michael Randles.

 #VolunteerAppreciationMonth We love having new volunteers representing Gen Z! Michael Randles has always felt called to help people during a crisis. “I am a firefighter EMT by trade in Illinois. I went into service straight out of high school. I was 19 years old,” said Michael. He did some volunteering with disaster response and emergency management organizations, like Team Rubicon. Michael worked in the communications and Emergency Operations Center (EOC) divisions at his local counties’ emergency management department.

Currently, Michael is a thriving college student. “I decided to pursue my bachelor’s degree at Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) in Fire Arson and Explosion Investigation,” he said. Michael knew he wanted to keep volunteering while at college. “Red Cross has always been on my bucket list. I admire what they do, especially for victims of house fires,” said Michael.

Michael volunteers with our Red Cross Eastern Kentucky Chapter as a member of the Disaster Action Team (DAT), Duty Officer, and Disaster Health Services (DHS). “I do Duty Officer most frequently. That works best for me because I can do it from my dorm room. I get dispatched for disasters in my area. I verify the event, make initial contact with families, and assign DAT responders to work with them,” said Michael.

Deployed virtually for the 2021 western Kentucky tornados and the 2022 eastern Kentucky floods, Michael worked as a Disaster Health Services volunteer. “We filtered through requests of people who had unmet medical needs due to power outages,” he said. His favorite memory is helping an elderly woman after a house fire. “She was 80 years old and lived alone. She needed her dentures replaced… I was so thrilled to be able to call her and say, ‘hey we got the cost approved, make your appointment.”

Michael has loved his volunteer journey so far. “It’s such a great experience to surround myself with people who care about people who they have never met… Beyond helping people, it’s a great way to give yourself life experience, see different perspectives, and learn new skills,” he said. When he travels home, Michael spends time with his siblings, Virginia, Kevin, and Steven. He also works on a hot air balloon crew. Michael loves spending time with his hound mix, Mylie, and is a member of the EKU marching band. “I play trumpet. I’m going to be a section leader next season.”

The Red Cross Kentucky Region loves having such a rising star on their team! Thank you for all you do to help your community, Michael. We will be cheering you on in your college endeavors at EKU!

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

Volunteer Appreciation Month: Chris Schepers

Chris, right, and her husband, Joe.
Photos courtesy Chris Schepers.

For Chris Schepers, family ties lead her servant’s heart. “When somebody needs something, you help them out. It starts at home. It’s not always convenient to help, but you still make it work. It’s not a me it’s a “we”. We are all in this together,” said Chris. While her volunteer journey is new, Chris jumped right in to help during the eastern Kentucky floods. She and her husband, Joe, were staying in Jenny Wiley State Park on a vacation when the storms hit. She heard about the damage to the homes. “My heart went out to these people because your home is the base of your family,” said Chris.

Chris did some research and realized the Red Cross would be a great place to start volunteering. “As soon as I got home, I did trainings for about 2 weeks. Then I get a call and I was asked to deploy to Alaska.” Chris deployed to Alaska after Typhoon Merbok hit. She describes Alaska as an adventure. She deployed to help with sheltering and assisted with Damage Assessment of the homes in the impacted areas. She admired their community, saying “They are so resilient and self-supporting. They embody everything I teach my children. You stick together. They started shelters on their own and did potlucks. One was hurting so they all were hurting.”

Soon after, Chris got a call to deploy to Florida after Hurricane Ian made landfall. She was called on to help with Reunification, a process that seeks to reunite families and loved ones that got lost in the storm. Chris recalls one touching story of a woman she helped. The woman had moved homes and was concerned for her previous neighbor. They had lost contact for about two weeks. “We found the couple in Florida. We got [them] on the phone. And the two were able to talk to each other. Both broke down crying. It was nice to hear the two contact each other.”

Chris and Joe have been married for 35 years. They have 4 children: Andrea, Stacey, Allison, and Patrick. They live in Owensboro, Kentucky within a 5-minute drive of each other. The family is expecting their 9th grandchild and enjoy taking the whole family on camping trips. Chris and Joe have taken their camper to 40 states. Now that she’s retired, they want to plan more weekend trips and explore.

Chris appreciates the mission of the Red Cross and plans to recruit more friends of hers to volunteer. “I have met so many cool people with this adventure. There are multiple people I’m working with that are local, and my kids went to school with their kids. You just want to help other people when they are at their worst. It’s such a neat thing. I can’t talk about it enough.”

Thank you for answering the call and jumping in to help others, Chris! You make our Kentucky team stronger! You can learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross at redcross.org/volunteertoday