By Gordon Williams Sharon Andrews It takes willing hands and compassion to carry out the Red Cross mission of aiding disaster victims and managing the nation's blood supply. But it also takes a ton of technology to make sure that mission is carried out effectively and efficiently. Volunteer Sharon Andrews of Spokane WA says she … Continue reading Volunteer Sharon Andrews takes a new role in Red Cross technology
How the Red Cross helps – when help is needed most
A Red Cross DAT Volunteer responds to a multi-unit home fire By Gordon Williams American Red Cross chapters serve their communities in many ways — from teaching CPR and first aid to keeping hospitals stocked with human blood. But nowhere is the contact more hands on and personal than the aid Red Cross volunteers deliver to disaster … Continue reading How the Red Cross helps – when help is needed most
Why I Volunteer: Disaster Action Team Supervisor John McNamara
Volunteer John McNamara from his home in Pullman, WA By Jennifer Astion "We are dealing with several houses with trees on them today," said Red Cross volunteer John McNamara when I spoke with him during a windstorm in mid-January 2021. He is a Disaster Action Team (DAT) Supervisor for the eastern part of the Greater Inland Northwest … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Disaster Action Team Supervisor John McNamara
Top 10 benefits of Volunteering
Have you decided on your New Year’s Resolutions yet? Resolve to volunteer. The American Red Cross has many opportunities to help you connect your skills, availability and interest with needs in your community. Here are the top 10 reasons why you should volunteer. Read them, then explore our most urgent volunteer needs at http://www.redcross.org/volunteertoday. … Continue reading Top 10 benefits of Volunteering
Why I Volunteer: Debbie Lutskas
Debbie Lutskas, Disaster Volunteer extraordinaire, from her home in Moses Lake, WA By Gordon Williams There are American Red Cross volunteers who have deployed to disaster scenes three or four or even a dozen times over the years. And then there is Debbie Lutskas of Moses Lake WA who has deployed 38 times since she … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Debbie Lutskas
Meet Gloria Hirashima, chair of the first virtual Heroes event in NW WA
Gloria Hirashima (center left) with her husband and fellow Red Cross volunteers prepare to install smoke alarms in Marysville, WA 2019 By Gordon Williams There are two compelling reasons why the American Red Cross serving Northwest Washington has held Heroes Breakfasts in each of the past 25 years. First, they give the Red Cross a … Continue reading Meet Gloria Hirashima, chair of the first virtual Heroes event in NW WA
How Keely Reinhard and her three “T’s” support the Red Cross
Keely Reinhard on stage at the 2019 Snohomish County Heroes Breakfast By Emily Thornton Keely Reinhard, of Snohomish WA, said she’s liked the Red Cross since about the sixth grade, when she wrote a report on its founder Clara Barton (Clarissa Harlowe Barton). Since then, the now-retiree has donated blood (beginning in college), become a Red … Continue reading How Keely Reinhard and her three “T’s” support the Red Cross
How Karene Gibbs and her sewing machine support the Red Cross
By Gordon Williams Red Cross workers make use of many devices in carrying out their humanitarian mission--from emergency response vehicles to home smoke alarms to water safety gear. For volunteer Karene Gibbs of Walla Walla WA, her device of choice recently was a sewing machine. When Covid-19 first struck, and face masks were in … Continue reading How Karene Gibbs and her sewing machine support the Red Cross
Red Cross salutes vets, including its own
By Mark Walker, Red Cross volunteer When members of the military leave the service, thousands turn to the Red Cross and become volunteers. Their spirit of service to others is being saluted by the Northwest Region of the Red Cross, which has produced a panel of portraits of the service members and families with strong … Continue reading Red Cross salutes vets, including its own
Young Volunteers Bring their Skills to the Red Cross
By Emily Thornton In September 2020, LinkedIn ranked the American Red Cross as the organization with the highest number of monthly volunteers. This year, the Red Cross has seen an increase of 20 percent in new volunteer applications and almost 30% of Red Cross volunteers are ages 25 to 49. Red Cross volunteer Katelyn Hinkin … Continue reading Young Volunteers Bring their Skills to the Red Cross
American Red Cross NW Region 