By Mark Walker Cecilia Gutierrez wanted to play a role in her community’s preparedness, that’s what first drew her to the American Red Cross – a commitment to help protect the lives of her friends and neighbors. Gutierrez, 60, submitted her application online, hoping to join the Disaster Cycle Services team for her home chapter. … Continue reading Cecilia Gutierrez brings Latina perspective to Red Cross board
Drake Walters knows first-hand why smoke alarms are life-savers
By Gordon Williams On one level, Drake Walters of Suquamish, Washington is just one of the thousands of individuals across the United States who install smoke alarms as part of the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign (HFC). Drake is a volunteer in the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas Chapter of the Red Cross, headquartered in … Continue reading Drake Walters knows first-hand why smoke alarms are life-savers
Dr. Charles Drew inspires a diverse blood drive at Olympic College
By Gordon Williams Aubrey, Lacey, Gregory and Andre at the Dr. Drew Blood drive at Olympic College Filling the nation’s need for blood is a full-time job for the Red Cross, supplier of 40 percent of all the blood needed by U.S. hospitals. A Red Cross team was recently at work collecting blood at Olympic … Continue reading Dr. Charles Drew inspires a diverse blood drive at Olympic College
How the Red Cross Serves Far-Off Clallam County
By Gordon Williams Every region the Red Cross serves has something that sets it apart. New York has teeming streets and towering buildings. Florida and south Texas face the persistent threat of tropical storms. Parts of California are at risk from wildfires and mudslides. What makes Clallam County WA stand out is not merely its … Continue reading How the Red Cross Serves Far-Off Clallam County
Why Tony Hillman Volunteers at the Red Cross — and Elsewhere, too
By Gordon Williams Just over 40,000 people live in Bremerton, WA, and Red Cross volunteer Tony Hillman may very well be the busiest of them all. Day job for Hillman, who is an accountant, is controller for Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County. As a volunteer at the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas (KOP) Red Cross … Continue reading Why Tony Hillman Volunteers at the Red Cross — and Elsewhere, too
Why I Volunteer: Valerie Jacobs
I began volunteering with the American Red Cross in 2012 when my AmeriCorps team did a Hunger Drive. I had always heard of it, but now had an opportunity to get to know what the Red Cross was really all about. I started doing administrative odds & ends, and I got to ride in an … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Valerie Jacobs
The Many Benefits from KOP’s Working Party
By Gordon Williams Photos by Gordon Williams Most times, a gathering of Red Cross volunteers and staffers would mean a disaster somewhere, with people in urgent need of assistance. But when more than a dozen volunteers and staff members gathered at the Bremerton office of the Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas Chapter on a sunny mid-July morning, … Continue reading The Many Benefits from KOP’s Working Party