New Jersey Red Crosser JoPop and his dad, Florida volunteer Joe Poplawski, reunite to help in Kentucky
Last month, tragic flooding destroyed hundreds of homes across Eastern Kentucky. The American Red Cross continues to work around the clock with partners to provide comfort and critical support to help those in need. Hundreds of trained Red Cross disaster workers have been on the ground in Kentucky helping to provide a safe place to stay, food to eat, critical relief supplies and emotional support for those affected.
Two of those disaster workers are named Joe Poplawski.
“I knew it would happen eventually,” said Joe Poplawski, New Jersey Region Red Cross Disaster Program Manager. Joe has deployed about a dozen times over the last couple of years, but it’s the first time he has worked with his dad, also named Joe Poplawski, on a deployment.
The elder Joe, who lives in southwest Florida, has deployed half a dozen times as a Red Cross volunteer, from Texas to California. Son Joe, who goes by JoPop at the Red Cross, credits his parents for his commitment to service. “They were always very charitable. I wanted to keep giving back. I joined the Red Cross as a volunteer and they hired me,” JoPop said.
It’s truly a family affair. “I’ve tried recruiting my wife because it would be nice if we could deploy together,” the elder Joe said. But JoPop’s wife and kids are also Red Crossers, so there are three generations of Poplawskis active in the Red Cross!
Both JoPop and his dad make it a point to see each other multiple times a year, but seeing each other on this deployment has been special. JoPop is deployed as the Deputy Assistant Director of Recovery and his father is doing shelter work, including driving Red Cross emergency response vehicles in eastern Kentucky.
The love and pride between father and son is evident to everyone who interacts with them. It is thanks to Red Crossers like Joe and his dad that we can respond to disasters when people need it the most.
YOU CAN HELP people affected by disasters like floods, fires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations enable the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
Story and video by Edgar Zuniga, American Red Cross