“I want to pay it forward. Blood is precious,” Rick Dunbar of Ocean Park, WA concluded after he finished detailing the harrowing experience he had back in 2000. It's what inspired him to become an avid blood donor. Close to 22 years ago, Rick, a now-retired IT specialist, went through a 5-way coronary artery bypass … Continue reading Once a recipient, Rick Dunbar now routinely donates blood
Hope and community sifted from ashes
By Betsy Robertson If you’ve never experienced a home fire or had property devastated by a wildfire, you might not know what this image represents. It’s a simple tool, made from wood and wire mesh, put together in batches by community members and volunteers. But what they offer is so much more than the … Continue reading Hope and community sifted from ashes
The many ways Steve Hatfield serves the Red Cross
By Gordon Williams Red Cross volunteer, Steve Hatfield, while on deployment in Puerto Rico If you are pressed for time, don’t ask Steve Hatfield of Centralia WA to list all the things he has done for the American Red Cross in his nearly two decades as a Red Cross staffer and volunteer. The list runs … Continue reading The many ways Steve Hatfield serves the Red Cross
Why MaryKate Hamilton gives back to the Red Cross
By Gordon Williams MaryKate Hamilton Ask the typical volunteer how they first came in contact with the Red Cross and most often they’ll mention a blood drive or a first aid class. But MaryKate Hamilton of Spokane WA, a volunteer with the Red Cross Greater Inland Northwest Chapter, tells a very different story. MaryKate was a young mother … Continue reading Why MaryKate Hamilton gives back to the Red Cross
Mental Health and the Military: How Red Cross Volunteers are Serving Those who Serve
May is Mental Health Awareness Month. It's also Military Appreciation Month, and the Red Cross is strongly committed to both supporting mental health and supporting members of the Armed Forces and their families. Combining the two, the Red Cross trains licensed mental health professionals to volunteer and provide support to members of the military, veterans and their families.
Stepping in Where Needed: These new Red Cross Volunteers Help Fill an Essential Position in Walla Walla
Dana (left) and Crystal (right) are two of our newest volunteers in Walla Walla, Washington By Gordon Williams One of the many things Dana Evans does in Walla Walla WA is serve as president of the local chapter of the Exchange Club — a national service organization. Dana was presiding over an Exchange Club luncheon recently when … Continue reading Stepping in Where Needed: These new Red Cross Volunteers Help Fill an Essential Position in Walla Walla
Add A Smoke Alarm, Save A Life
Working smoke alarms can save lives, which is why the Red Cross launched its Home Fire Campaign in 2014 — to reduce home fire deaths by installing alarms in homes that lack them.
Making a Difference with Red Cross Clubs
“We live on an island, and our sense of community is really strong. Diving into that community and being able to do service projects around the island was a big factor in starting this club."
Meet Jenny Carkner – the Region’s new Chief Disaster Officer
By Gordon Williams For most of us, disaster planning involves safeguarding our own homes and homesteads against fire, flood, and storm. For Jenny Carkner of Ellensburg WA, disaster planning involves safeguarding all the dwellings that house the eight million people who live within the American Red Cross Northwest Region. A veteran of more than 17 … Continue reading Meet Jenny Carkner – the Region’s new Chief Disaster Officer
How Red Cross Resiliency Training Helps The Region’s Military
The challenges of military life are pretty obvious -- deployment to danger zones, long periods of separation followed by all the issues involved with reconnecting. Add to that the trauma caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need for resiliency training is pretty clear. No surprise that participation in resiliency workshops is at record levels, according to Jason Matheney, SAF Program Director for the Red Cross Northwest Region.
American Red Cross NW Region 