The American Red Cross of Greater Kansas is pleased to announce its exceptional volunteer award winners for 2026.

Volunteer Services Exceptional Volunteer: Kaelyn Wells

Kaelyn has demonstrated exceptional leadership and growth through her work with the University of Kansas Red Cross Club. Her trustworthiness, reliability and forward-thinking approach have strengthened the club and elevated its impact. In recognition of her contributions, she was selected to serve as the Regional Red Cross Club Coordinator, a role she has embraced with professionalism and dedication.

As regional coordinator, Kaelyn leads monthly leadership meetings, maintains consistent communication with each club and ensures compliance with organizational standards. She also provides valuable support for administrative efforts, offering thoughtful ideas and feedback that enhances best practices across the region. Her initiative and attention to detail have made a meaningful difference in supporting both clubs and leadership.

Kaelyn’s commitment to service and continuous growth reflects the very best of the Red Cross mission. As she prepares for her journey to medical school, her leadership and passion for helping others set a strong foundation for future success.

Biomedical Services Exceptional Volunteer: Diane Douglas

Diane is committed, reliable, service-focused, dependable and supportive. She leads six two-day blood drives each year in Lawrence, consistently exceeding goals. She creates a welcoming environment, manages issues quickly and helps reduce wait times while enhancing the donor experience.

As lead volunteer for blood drives at Immanuel Lutheran Church, she supports planning, promotes drives in the community and maintains strong partner relationships. Her proactive communication and attention to detail help ensure every drive runs smoothly.

Diane goes above and beyond by promoting events in advance and ensuring each drive is organized and efficient from start to finish. She also leads by example, having donated approximately 19 gallons of blood.

Disaster Services Exceptional Volunteer: Kathy McCall

Kathy exemplifies excellence as a Recovery Casework Supervisor through her compassion, attention to detail and unwavering dedication to those she serves. Since joining the recovery team, she has quickly grown into a trusted leader who consistently supports both clients and colleagues.

Her calm, reassuring presence provides comfort to clients navigating some of the most difficult moments of their lives. Kathy communicates effectively across all levels, creating strong collaboration and ensuring every case is handled with care and clarity. Her professionalism and empathy set a standard of service that reflects the very best of our mission.

In her role, Kathy demonstrates diligence and resourcefulness, managing complex cases while maintaining a focus on client needs and organizational standards. She carefully reviews each case, identifies critical details and ensures appropriate resources are provided, often uncovering needs that might otherwise go unnoticed. Her proactive outreach and follow-up support help connect clients to essential services, from disaster counseling to family and health resources.

Kathy’s ability to guide and mentor new caseworkers fosters a supportive, team-oriented environment where everyone feels valued and prepared to succeed. Her work consistently strengthens the quality and impact of our recovery efforts.

Financial Development Exceptional Volunteer: Kevin Charlwood

Kevin is an exceptional representative of the Red Cross, consistently demonstrating initiative, collaboration, and dedication to the mission. He actively supports community outreach efforts, frequently volunteering for engagement opportunities and ensuring events are successful. His creativity and fresh perspective strengthen the Community Outreach Team and enhance our ability to connect with the community.

In addition to his outreach efforts, Kevin serves with distinction on the Greater Kansas Chapter Board of Directors, contributing valuable insight into fundraising and development initiatives. He is committed to advancing the mission by identifying new ways to engage and inspire both current and prospective donors. Kevin’s professionalism, reliability and enthusiasm foster strong partnerships with volunteers and staff alike.

Operations Department Exceptional Volunteer: Karen Crawford

Karen embodies determination, engagement and versatility in her service to the Red Cross. She played a key role in our office transition, dedicating significant time each day to packing, unpacking and organizing the new space while ensuring continuity of operations.

At the same time, Karen continued her work as a Disaster Action Team responder and Regional Pet Sheltering Liaison. She also supported disaster responses, led preparedness classes and participated in community outreach. Her ability to manage multiple responsibilities reflects her strong work ethic and commitment.

Karen’s compassion, reliability and leadership consistently elevate those around her. She supports both clients and fellow volunteers with care and professionalism.

Service to the Armed Forces Exceptional Volunteers: Steve and Dorothy Swenson

Steve and Dorothy demonstrate compassion, professionalism and commitment in their volunteer service. Each week, they support the Victory Welcome Information Fair, providing a warm and welcoming presence to new service members and their families. Their genuine understanding of the military community, combined with their professionalism, consistently earns positive feedback from partners and those they serve.

During the 2025 government shutdown, they volunteered multiple times each week at Irwin Army Community Hospital to support health and wellness efforts and to keep the Common Grounds Café operational. Their presence provided comfort and boosted morale for civilian staff facing financial uncertainty.

Despite living an hour from Fort Riley, they remain dedicated to weekly service, often accompanied by their therapy dog, Buddy. They also contribute valuable feedback to improve programs and outreach. They are parents to an active-duty service member, and Steve is also a veteran.

Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership: Toni Floyd

Toni exemplifies the spirit of the Clara Barton Honor Award through her exceptional dedication, compassion and unwavering commitment to serving others. She consistently goes above and beyond to support communities across western Kansas, often traveling long distances to ensure clients receive critical assistance.

Following the tornado in Grinnell, Kansas, last year, Toni served as Damage Assessment Lead, providing calm, steady leadership under pressure. Amid active field work, she took the initiative to mentor a new volunteer one-on-one, teaching them required software and guiding them through required documentation processes. That volunteer ultimately became a fully qualified Damage Assessment responder.

Toni’s commitment to strengthening the volunteer workforce is evident in her leadership in training and mentorship. In January, she served as lead instructor for a Shelter Fundamentals course in Ellis County, equipping 14 partner volunteers with essential skills for future shelter operations. In March, she helped develop and deliver a Disaster Action Team Academy in Cheyenne County, training and mentoring 16 new volunteers and building a stronger, more confident response team.

She has further demonstrated leadership by expanding her role as a volunteer partner and instructor while developing new technical skills to enhance her effectiveness. During wildfires in southwestern Kansas, Toni supported canteen operations across five counties, helping distribute over $3,000 in donated goods to more than 150 first responders battling fires while also strengthening coordination with local emergency managers.

A long-time volunteer, Toni has always been dependable, but in the past year she has truly elevated her service, stepping into leadership roles and taking initiative whenever needed. Her efforts have measurably increased local readiness, strengthened partnerships and expanded volunteer capacity across the region. Toni’s leadership, mentorship and compassion embody the highest ideals of the Red Cross mission.

Inspired by these volunteers? Put on a red vest and join us. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to find out how you can support your community.

Awards were announced at the chapter annual meeting on June 17 in Topeka. See more event photos on our Flickr page.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.