Joining the military well into your career isn’t common, but that’s exactly what Tyra Oliver did. Tyra was deployed for the first time in 2014, where she discovered the Red Cross at the military base in Kuwait. “I really believe in what the Red Cross is doing and how they educate both families and service members about the support they need,” Tyra said. 

In 2013, when the Illinois River overflowed its banks, a barge slammed into the dam in Marseilles, Illinois, raising the water level faster than anyone could prepare for.

“When my city of Marseilles was flooded, that is when I really became involved with the Red Cross,” Kent remembers. “There were damaged homes and grief-stricken people everywhere, and I just felt that I had to help. The Red Cross showed up, and I knew that I wanted to be a part of that.

For over a century, the Red Cross has recognized the unique bond between people and dogs, especially in helping soldiers and veterans find comfort and companionship during challenging times. Logan, a 7th-grade art teacher with over 15 years in the classroom, is proud to carry this tradition through the Illinois Red Cross with his two remarkable therapy dogs, Nova and Lucy. Logan’s journey into therapy work began about three years ago, with a chance encounter that led to a calling.

For more than 40 years, Fran Lenhart has served as a volunteer for the American Red Cross. Fran’s mother worked for the Red Cross in Morgan County, Illinois and introduced her to volunteering, while Fran was a freshman in nursing school. 

“My favorite parts are helping others or teaching them things that might save their life–and the people you meet, the people you work with and the people you help.”