By Tammy Hensley, Media Relations Volunteer

A casual conversation between two American Red Cross volunteers on their return drive from a Disaster Action Team response has created a bond between them they never imagined.

Anne Cockley, of Frankfort, and Dr. Palisa Williams Rushin, of Shelbyville, were returning from providing services to a family affected by a house fire when Cockley asked Rushin why she became a volunteer.

Rushin explained she was looking for something to do after retiring as the Vice-President for Student Development and Enrollment Management at Bluegrass Community and Technical College and had heard her friend talk about volunteering with the Red Cross.

“I wanted something where I could have face-to-face interaction with individuals in their time of need to help them, to listen to them,” said Rushin, “so the Red Cross was a good fit for me.”

And then she paused before telling Cockley a more personal reason. She had lost her own daughter in a fire, and the Red Cross had been there to assist. Rushin continued to share more details of the fire - her daughter, Zephany, was 21 years old and a student at Kentucky State University when she and her roommate died of smoke inhalation in their Frankfort apartment on Sept. 30, 2021.

As Rushin talked, Cockley realized everything sounded all too familiar. She had responded to that fire.

“When I realized her daughter had been in that fire, my first thought was ‘Wow, yikes, maybe I shouldn’t have brought that up,” said Cockley. “I wasn’t sure whether it was going to be a good thing or not.”

But for Rushin, it confirmed her decision to become a Red Cross volunteer.

“I remember your expression,” she said to Cockley. “You were like, ‘I was at that fire’ and I was like, ‘Oh wow.’ It was like a God moment for me. It was like I had really made the right decision with volunteering with the Red Cross. It solidified that I was where I needed to be. I mean it just doesn’t happen (by coincidence).”

Since the two women discovered their connection, they have learned of other similarities between themselves. Cockley’s late husband had been a professor at Kentucky State University and both Cockley and Rushin own pit bulls.

“There are lots of things that make us easy colleagues,” said Cockley.

Rushin struggled to find the words to describe how their relationship had changed but laughed and smiled.

“Does a smile show a thousand words?” she asked.

“When she (Cockley) said she was there, I felt more trust towards you, Anne,” said Rushin. “She’s very knowledgeable. It gave me comfort knowing that if Anne was there, the people she assisted, I knew they were taken care of. Even though I lost my daughter in the fire . . . it’s comforting to know the Red Cross was there, and they (survivors) received assistance.”

The two women continue to try and volunteer together as much as they can. They participate in conference calls to see which days they can schedule their on-call availability.

“We’re comfortable (with each other),” said Cockley. “We work well as a team.”

Cockley encourages anyone interested in volunteering with the Red Cross to ask about the various opportunities available, including remote options.

“There are lots of opportunities to volunteer for the Red Cross, not just disaster relief,” she said. “There are also roles that you can do without having to get up in the middle of the night and go to a fire. As you are able, think about the Red Cross and donate or volunteer time.”

You can help your community as a Red Cross volunteer by visiting redcross.org/volunteertoday