American Red Cross Kentucky Region sees need for emergency support during COVID-19

LOUISVILLE, KY, JANUARY 11, 2021 — As the New Year brings the tradition of resolutions, consider helping people in need as a volunteer in Kentucky and Southern Indiana.

During the coronavirus pandemic, families continue to depend on the American Red Cross volunteers every day for emergency support, including home fires, service to armed forces and the need for blood.

“Just knowing someone is there to lend a helping hand during these trying times provides a light of hope for our neighbors,” said Steve Cunanan, CEO for the American Red Cross Kentucky Region. “Please join us by resolving to help as a Red Cross volunteer and ensure no one faces life’s emergencies alone.”

WHY I VOLUNTEER As a Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassador volunteer, Lynette Allen, has worked the majority of blood drives in the Ashland, KY area since 2017. Her dedication in making sure patients in hospitals have lifesaving blood is inspiring. While working at the drives, she makes sure the donors feel welcome and the donors actually ask for her by name. “This is the way I can help and serve those who need it most. I’ve fallen more and more in love with the Red Cross mission and its positive impact on others,” said Allen.

“Years ago, we lost touch with my brother who was in Vietnam, and the Red Cross helped us make contact with him while he was hospitalized. Since that time, I dreamed of helping in some way with this organization,” Linda Beck, Red Cross Kentucky Region disaster volunteer. The opportunity arose with tornadoes in Oklahoma in 2013, in which Linda became a Red Cross volunteer. Over the years, she has held positions in sheltering and casework, among many others, as well as traveled out of state to assist with disaster relief work.

HOW TO HELP The need for volunteers is constant, and everyone’s well-being is our top priority as we work with public health officials to safely deliver services during COVID-19. Visit redcross.org/volunteertoday to learn more, including our most-needed positions:

• Blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists: Blood donations are essential to the health of our communities, and blood donor ambassadors are a vital part of this work by welcoming visitors and taking
  their temperatures before entering Red Cross facilities and blood drives. Visitors could include potential blood donors, people seeking help, training course participants, and Red Cross employees and volunteers. We also have a high-priority need for transportation specialists to help deliver blood from our facilities to local hospitals.

• Disaster response volunteers: Most of the U.S. disasters the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes are local home fires, which can destroy nearly everything a family owns in a matter of minutes. Partnering with local fire departments, Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers connect with families by video or phone call to provide emotional support, emergency financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover.

• Volunteer from home (virtual positions): Help from the comfort of your own home through a wide range of virtual opportunities, including casework for individuals and families impacted by a home fire, preparedness presentations, mental health and basic health services, and scheduling of volunteers for blood drives.

_{About the American Red Cross:}

_{The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.}

# # #