By Michael Bowman

There is one phrase that summarizes Patty Minga’s life: Service to others.

You can find Minga all over Jonesboro, Arkansas, teaching classes at her church, assisting several ministries, and working with several nonprofit organizations around the community. But serving the American Red Cross as a Blood Donor Ambassador is one of Patty’s favorite activities.

Serving others and helping her community has been a constant in Patty Minga’s life. Following a thirty-year career in nursing, Patty recognized the importance of blood donors toward helping health care facilities meet the needs of the community. “Hospitals need blood,” said Minga. Without hesitation, Minga volunteered as a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador, assisting donors with registration and check-ins during blood drives. After thirty years in the medical field, her new role with the Red Cross seemed like a logical choice. “This is as close as I can get to nursing without doing nursing.”

Since the 1980s, Minga has been a constant presence with the Red Cross in Northeast Arkansas. She is willing to do everything from packing disaster kits to sharing information with the community about Red Cross services. But most of her time is devoted to serving as a Blood Donor Ambassador during blood drives. In her role, she greets donors, answers questions, and offers an encouraging word to those who may be a bit nervous. Whatever is needed, Minga volunteers as a Blood Donor Ambassador as much as she can. “As a general rule, I volunteer three to five times a month.”

“Patty brings the Red Cross mission to life with every act of service,” said Micheal Sullivan, Red Cross Executive Director for Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas. Whether lending a helping hand or greeting others with a friendly smile, her passion for serving others reflects the very heart of the Red Cross.”

Her role as a Blood Donor Ambassador, along with her other volunteer activities, keeps Patty Minga’s calendar full. When asked how she can contribute so much time and effort to the Red Cross, her church, and other community organizations, Minga is quick to credit her faith. “Because that’s how God made me,” said Minga. “We are to serve like He served, so I do what I can.”

And serving others is what Minga does best. And that service extends beyond helping those who donate blood to preparing the next generation of Red Cross volunteers. During a recent blood drive at Arkansas State University in Jonesboro, Minga worked alongside a group of college students who volunteered to register blood donors and distribute information about the Red Cross. “I enjoyed it. And I enjoy meeting them and working with them. It’s always good to work with the younger generation.”

The next time there is a blood drive in northeast Arkansas, don’t be surprised if you see Blood Donor Ambassador Patty Minga distributing information about the Red Cross, answering questions about the need for blood, or sharing a smile and “Thank You” to someone for their donation. “Whenever they have a blood drive that fits my schedule, then I will volunteer.”

Serve your community by joining the Red Cross. Visit redcross.org/volunteer for more information.