As the number of COVID-19 cases and deaths continue to rise across the nation, the American Red Cross of Georgia is seeing a spike in the number of military families looking for emergency assistance. The number of emergency requests has grown by 20 percent up to date this year, and that number is expected to grow as families grapple with job loss, death, and serious illness as a direct impact of the pandemic.

In 2020, the Georgia Red Cross’ Service to Armed Forces (SAF) Hero Care Network has received nearly 11,000 emergency requests related to financial assistance and referrals, emergency communication, food, and housing assistance, among other service requests. The Georgia region handles some of the largest volumes of casework across the nation.

Behind the scenes providing help to families looking for assistance are virtual caseworkers like Evelyn Rollie. 

Since joining the American Red Cross in May, Rollie has worked 250 cases sharing services with military families and assisting with emergency communications to active duty and community-based military families, connecting them during a crisis or an emergency, like death or severe illness. 

Rollie also provides support and comfort to families experiencing financial hardship, emotional distress, and even homelessness by offering resources through the Hero Care Network. 

This month, during a routine family, follow up to inquire if the parent of a service member needed Red Cross assistance, the family member responded with a cry for help with rent as her employer had recently cut her work hours due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Rollie managed to turn a routine family follow-up-case into an urgent matter and provided the family with recourses available to help with their financial needs. 

Helping others is something she has always had a desire to do. Rollie comes from a long lineage of family members who served in the military – including her father, uncles, and an aunt who served in the Air Force in the late 1940s during an era when women had just become recognized as full members of the armed forces. 

Originally from Newark, N.J., she moved to Atlanta at age16 and joined the army after graduating from high school. Rollie spent a year and a half (1970-1971) working as a clerk typist assisting military families of deployed soldiers with housing and other living accommodations before leaving the military to start a family of her own.  

After retiring just last year from working for the federal government for 40 years, she chose to continue her dedication to giving back to the men and women who serve the military and their families.

“I wanted to join the Red Cross because they help people all the time, in disaster time and anytime soldiers and veterans need assistance and just people in general," said Rollie.

Since becoming a volunteer, she’s also been able to help deliver good news. Just last month, the 69-year old veteran had the opportunity to connect a military family and deployed soldier to deliver news that he had become a first-time father. 

“He was just ecstatic, and that really made my day. When you’re able to connect with the family or the soldier, and everything goes well, that’s wonderful,” she said.  

Located on every military installation across the United States and 36 worldwide, the American Red Cross provides nearly 471,000 services to military, veterans, and their families, like preparing for and managing through the challenges of service. Red Cross services range from providing emotional support through counseling and workshops, to housing and financial support through resources available to military families, and to emergency communication to servicemembers through the Hero Care Network. 

Due to COVID-19, Hero Care workers, like Rollie, are now remotely answering emergency calls 24/7 to assist separated military families, who can connect with the Hero Care Network by calling 877-272-7337 or by downloading the free Hero Care App, available in English and Spanish.

Rollie walks in her mother’s footsteps to deliver the Red Cross mission. Her mom was a nurse volunteer in the 1960s and 1970s and she sees her work as a tribute to her.

When asked how long she plans to volunteer for the American Red Cross, Rollie said, “Until I have breath left in me.”

The Georgia Red Cross has proudly supported military and veteran communities for more than 100 years. During this season of giving, the public can support Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces with a financial gift/tribute at www.redcross.org/gifts or by becoming a volunteer like Evelyn Rollie at www.redcross.org/volunteer.