By Molly Carnell, American Red Cross Utah/Nevada Region

Barbara Kramer has been a dedicated disaster volunteer with the Northern Nevada chapter of the American Red Cross since 2014. The Red Cross has deployed her to local disasters like flooding in Reno to disasters across the country, like Hurricane Irma in Florida. For her exceptional service, Barbara Kramer was awarded with the chapter’s highest honor, the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership. The award is named after Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross, and is awarded annually to a volunteer who consistently provides personal expertise and leadership within the organization.

“It’s kind of a culmination of all the work you’ve put in… that recognition that you’ve been doing something worthwhile,” Kramer said. “It’s not the award so much as what you feel in your heart giving back to people.” Kramer added that the award carrying Barton’s name on it made it all the more special. “Her name on it means you’re helping to accomplish what her mission was.” Kramer has worked in shelters, on disaster assessments, emergency supplies distribution, transportation and has led our home fire campaign efforts.

Kramer was one of ten volunteers the Northern Nevada chapter honored on June 25 during the chapter’s first in-person annual meeting since 2019. The crucial work of the Red Cross is only possible because of the dedicated volunteers who selflessly offer their time to help others. “What would we do would simply not be possible without the amazing volunteers here today,” said Mary Powell, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter. “From disaster preparedness to disaster response and beyond, these are the people that make the Red Cross as strong as we are, who make our community so resilient.”

In Northern Nevada alone, more than 220 volunteers worked more than 10,426 hours in the past fiscal year, fulfilling the American Red Cross mission to “prevent and alleviate human suffering.”

Some of the ten volunteers honored at the annual meeting have been with the organization for years while some were high school students who have already made a mark on their community. In addition to Kramer, volunteer award recipients included Frank Scafidi, Matt Henderson, Juli Barry, Betsy Morse, Jim Rich, Arisha Mohiuddin, Riley Sherman, Kenna Costanza, and Karenne Smith.

“All of you inspire us each and every day with your commitment to serve others. You are that helping hand, that shoulder to cry on, you’re there for people during some of their most difficult moments and provide immediate assistance,” said Heidi Ruster, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross in Utah and Nevada. “You are at the heart of our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering and we are so grateful for each of you.”

Full List of Volunteer Awards and Recipients:

Rising Star Volunteer Award - Frank Scafidi

Board Member Recognition Award - Matt Henderson

Business Operations Volunteer Award - Juli Barry

Communications Volunteer Award - Betsy Morse

Disaster Response Volunteer Award - Jim Rich

International Services Volunteer Award - Arisha Mohiuddin

Outstanding Red Cross Club Member of the Year Award - Riley Sherman

Volunteer Services Volunteer Award - Kenna Costanza

Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service - Karenne Smith

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit redcross.org/volunteer.