Tim Lewis became a Red Cross volunteer first. His wife, Marilyn, soon joined him. “We do most things together. She wanted to do it with me,” Tim Lewis explained. “I thought it would be a good thing for us to do together as a couple.” After working in law enforcement and emergency management for 40 years, Tim Lewis came to the Red Cross as a volunteer already well-versed in the mission. He spent his professional life responding to weather crises and home fires. He also planned ahead for...

By Janet Flanagan “Even war has rules.”   That’s what Laura Calese tells her Red Cross class.   Wait. What?   Why is a Red Cross volunteer talking about the rules of war?   Isn’t the Red Cross all about blood donations, CPR, fire safety, first aid and disaster response?   The answer is “Yes.” And the Red Cross is also involved in another service, that of promoting International Humanitarian Law.   It came about after 1859, when a Swiss businessman, Henry Dunant, witnessed horrific suffering...

As winter settles in, so do the challenges to collecting blood. The American Red Cross is facing a severe blood shortage as requests from hospitals exceed the available supply of blood, drawing down the blood supply by about 35 percent over the past month. Individuals are urgently needed to give blood or platelets now so patients don’t face delays in lifesaving care.  But there is  good news: You can help change that. Now through February, the Red Cross is calling on compassionate individuals...

Cliff Haynes is a community disaster program manager in the Eastern Iowa chapter. He is committed to ensuring that the chapter is prepared to respond to different kinds of disasters and that our incredible team of volunteers is able to serve those affected. He sheds light on what his job entails and how rewarding his role can be. Cliff Haynes on his deployment to the Kentucky floods in 2025 Q: Could you explain what your title means and take us through your workday, or what projects you work...

By Rachelle Lipker Carter Gustin is a 14-year-old who embodies the spirit of a typical teenager—active, social, and deeply passionate about sports. Before his diagnosis, he was almost always outside, moving from one activity to the next. He loves being with friends, competing in sports, and would rarely spend time sitting still. A true multi-sport athlete, Gustin loves participating in baseball, basketball, wrestling, golf, football and track. Carter Gustin Gustin’s health journey began with...