By Kayla Ihrig, AmeriCorps member serving the American Red Cross NW Region
Service work runs in the family for Elle Barnes (left) and Dakota Gates (right). Elle and her daughter Dakota are both currently serving their Washington communities through a term with AmeriCorps. Elle serves Tri-Cities with the American Red Cross in the Northwest region, in the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) position. Dakota serves in Kitsap.
This is not their first brush with service work. When Dakota was a teenager, she and Elle volunteered together different places, supporting local food banks, St. Judes Hospital and fighting world hunger. Dakota was also involved within her high school, and Elle volunteered time toward other causes and events.
Elle and Dakota both began their year of service work this fall.
“We talked a lot about different options when it came to employment and when these separate opportunities presented themselves, they felt right to both of us,” Elle said.
American Red Cross NW Region 