From an early age, giving back has been a part of Mary McKinley’s life. A board member with the American Red Cross Louisville Area Chapter, McKinley’s connection to the Red Cross goes back a generation. Her mother was a nurse with the Red Cross and volunteered at blood drives until her late eighties when she retired.

From the first time she joined her mother at a blood drive in the early 1970s, McKinley saw first-hand how donated blood products helped those who needed it the most. As children, she and her sister helped their mother at blood drives by collecting the bags of donated blood shaking them to keep them fresh and ready to be moved and processed later. Today, this process is handled by special equipment to keep donated blood from coagulating. The experience left a lasting impression on McKinley.

“What started as a blood-shaking task for me as a young girl, turned out to be a passion for being a helping hand to others for over 50 years,” McKinley said.

She shared her call to help others was encouraged by her parents, who were veterans of WWII.

“My mom was a nurse and my dad was an engineer,” said McKinley. Her family became involved in disaster relief and visited places as part of sheltering and response teams, not only with the Red Cross, but also with many other community organizations.

“[They] helped after the war with disaster relief efforts, and volunteered to help the injured, participated in blood drives, and other related activities.”

Her parents’ decades of service left a long-lasting impact on McKinley’s passion to continue their legacy. McKinley retired in early 2025 and is using her time to give back in the way they instilled in her over the years.

Currently, McKinley is actively volunteering in the Kentucky Region with a focus on blood drives. She also serves on the Louisville Area Chapter board and also dedicates part of her time to help local NGOs in strategic planning and assists them in moving forward so they can serve their communities better.

McKinley personally witnessed how blood donations can impact someone’s life when her mother needed a blood transfusion on her hospital bed. As a result, McKinley is also a frequent blood donor.

McKinley asserted that donating blood shows that people share more than blood: “We share life values and interests. When a person gives a unit of his or her blood, it’s not a simple act, but a real-life saving act.”

While working with the Red Cross, McKinley shared that she has witnessed deep human values of giving, sharing, solidarity and synergy. She believes these values should be highlighted and shared with the younger generations.

“It’s great to see people’s impression when they see the Red Cross coming to their areas during disasters,” said McKinley. “It’s hope and care coming to help them to survive and stand up again in the face of the life hardships.”

McKinley finds volunteering with the Red Cross rewarding: “[E]specially when I see the impact the organization’s work has on people, and how many lives [it’s] saved and changed because of these efforts in times of need.” said McKinley. “The Red Cross is a symbol of unity and support and hope.” 

Our work would not be possible without the dedication of volunteers like Mary! Learn more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer at redcross.org/volunteertoday