Melisa Kara is a senior at Research Triangle High School, president of the Red Cross Club, and a first-generation American. Although her parents, who are originally from Turkey, have donated blood before, their family's knowledge of what the Red Cross does was somewhat limited.
“I thought they were just the blood people,” Melisa stated. “I was shocked to learn what more they did.”
Melisa learned this when she joined the Red Cross Club during her Freshman year. “I saw it as a great way to give back to my community.”
Recently, Melissa and five other members of the 25-member club visited the Durham VA hospital and provided food and entertainment to several veterans.
“Our club bought a wide variety of food and snacks, and then we brought board games and a karaoke machine,” Kara said. “That was the best part, we sang and a few veterans sang as well.”
Veterans Reginald Hawley and Anthony Deberry, two of the eight veterans who attended the event, not only enjoyed the company and the food but belted out a few songs as well.
Some of the veterans were permanent residents of the VA, while others were currently there being treated. But all who attended, including three VA employees, had a great time.
The club also handed out comfort care kits, put together by other Red Cross Clubs, to the veterans who attended.
Melisa and her club from RTHS were very happy with how the day turned out and hope to hold more events like this in the future.
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