Barbara Weinberger has made tremendous efforts for the American Red Cross programs aiding veterans and the armed services. Because of her love for this line of work, one might even say that she has a soft spot for members of the military.

She is extremely passionate about volunteering for Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) and believes it is one of the most gratifying ways of helping people through the Red Cross.

Earning her bachelor’s degree in education and a master’s degree in counseling led her to a career, focused on nursing. As a nursing instructor, she was able to complete fieldwork in a VA hospital in New York. She later married her husband who coincidentally was a U.S. Army veteran.

Her journey with the American Red Cross arose in Palm Beach County and began over twenty-three years. She started out as a Disaster Action Team caseworker which required her to assist people in need of financial support. She also overlooked FEMA applications and aided people affected by home fires. Gradually, she shifted her volunteerism to SAF and the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center where she currently serves as the organization’s representative.

Weinberger’s endeavors at the VA Medical Center have been immensely fruitful and Heidi O’Sheehan, Service to the Armed Forces Director, is proud to say that “she is basically the face of the Red Cross and runs all of our programs there”.

O’Sheehan also applauds her for “having a heart towards serving others and being determined. The COVID-19 crisis did not slow her down and she simply looked for new and more creative ways to serve”.

“The first thing we actually did was Totes of Hope,” Weinberger said. “It gradually expanded until we did 100 this past year”.

Programs such as Totes of Hope, which provide homeless veterans with toiletries and other personal hygiene items, have increased veteran appreciation making way for a variety of different initiatives. Some of these activities include creating holiday cards for VA patients, gathering baby shower gifts for pregnant veterans, and hosting monthly breakfasts for veteran recognition. The Red Cross has maintained this operation to collect items for the program to give back to the veteran community.

As she looks back at her fondest Red Cross memories, she says her favorite SAF project was collecting and distributing holiday cards as it gave her an opportunity to speak with those who served in the military.

The Holidays for Heroes program involves the distribution of cards to patients at local VA facilities in which the public has opportunities to write notes in the form of holiday cards. Initially, the program started out small and included only inpatients, but has now grown. 

These programs are particularly noteworthy during the National Salute to Veteran Patients Week, which occurs February 14-20. The whole week is dedicated to paying tribute to the 9 million injured veterans who received medical treatment in VA medical facilities. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, it allows increased community awareness of the role of the VA Medical Center, encourages visits to hospitalized veterans, and engages volunteers. The American Red Cross also takes part in recognizing the week by highlighting volunteer work for veteran patients. As the Red Cross’s representative, Weinberger is the leader of the organization’s VA medical center programs. “Everything we do there ... is attributable to Barbara,” O’Sheehan said.

Weinberger said she’s been acquainted with the Red Cross since her youth in New York. She recalls learning about artificial respiration and first aid. “Artificial respiration was the old thing. It’s CPR now, but [things were] different [back] then.”

O’Sheehan considers Weinberger as the best representation of what Clara Barton intended when she founded the American Red Cross 140 years ago. “Nursing and care were her mission whether it was on the battlefield or in the hospital afterward,” O’Sheehan said.

Weinberger “is hugely valuable to the department,” O’Sheehan said. “She serves as a mentor to newer, younger volunteers… so they can step up into leadership roles. “She gets one program going and then says, ‘Now what else can we do for them?’”

In the last six to seven years, Weinberger has spent most of her time volunteering for the American Red Cross at the veteran’s hospital. There is no doubt that she is one of the greatest assets to Service to the Armed Forces.

“I was looking to help other people,” said Weinberger, who will turn 90 this year. “That hasn’t changed. It’s all gratifying. That’s why I’m still doing it.”

To become a Service to the Armed Forces volunteer and support those who serve, visit redcross.org/SAF.

Written by Marjie Jackson