By: Sid Kaparthe, American Red Cross

Volunteering for a local blood drive at Southeastern Missouri University (SEMO), long-time Red Cross volunteer Kate Appleman is a perfect symbol of the Red Cross mission. Appleman first experienced the Red Cross in high school when volunteering for local blood drives at her school. After becoming a member of a Red Cross Club at SEMO, Appleman fell deeper in love with volunteering for the Red Cross. She would go on to become president of the very same club for the next three years and conduct a variety of projects. From collection drives for local veterans’ homes to installing smoke alarms, to organizing one of the largest collegiate blood drives, Appleman cited her love of seeing the impact she makes on the lives of others as one of her biggest motivations for volunteering for the Red Cross. Appleman has also had no shortage of awards and accomplishments throughout her Red Cross career. In 2021, she received the Youth and Young Adult Leadership Impact Award. Then in 2022, Appleman was awarded the Volunteer Service Award and Hero Award. Her accomplishments didn’t end there. Due to her outstanding leadership, the Red Cross Club at SEMO received the Outstanding Collegiate Chapter award in 2020, 2021, and 2022. 

Over the years, Appleman has served in many diverse roles within the American Red Cross. She is currently serving her third term as a member of the Board of Directors for the Southeast Missouri and Northeast Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross, where she serves as the secretary and co-committee head for the Biomedical Committee. She also serves on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee. At SEMO, she is currently working as the Advisor for the Red Cross Club and has served as the Blood Drive Coordinator for the last four years. Thanks to her help, the SEMO Red Cross Club has collected thousands of units of blood through the blood drives that they have hosted.

Throughout her volunteer career in the Red Cross, Appleman has made countless contributions and impacts to the Red Cross and to the world we live in. She exemplifies what it means to make a positive difference in the world and shows that it doesn’t have to be hard. Something as small as donating blood at a local Red Cross blood drive or making cards for our veterans can have invaluable impacts.

Appleman shows how volunteering with the Red Cross has substantial benefits. From building important qualities such as leadership and time management to receiving incredible awards, Appleman is a noteworthy example of how the experience of volunteering for the Red Cross is a rewarding one. For the future, Appleman plans on maintaining several of her roles at the Red Cross and continuing her love for volunteering as well as pursuing higher education. 

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