Filed under: Disaster Services, Volunteers | Tagged: American Red Cross, Kaukauna, Mack McElrone, Post Crescent, Roger Palmer, WI, Wisconsin Storms | Leave a Comment »
National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, is a time to celebrate volunteers. This year’s theme, Celebrating People in Action, aptly describes volunteers from Northeast Wisconsin. Red Cross volunteers are doers. Red Cross volunteers are people in action. Learn more about some of the amazing people who give of their time, talent, money and blood to support the organization.
Regular volunteers at the blood center not only help the blood center run smoothly but they sure do add to the friendly atmosphere too. If you are a regular blood donor on Fridays you are probably used to seeing the friendly faces of Rita Haase, Eleanor Terrien, Karen Parfitt and Lorraine Nelson.
Eleanor and Rita
Eleanor and Rita work have been volunteering in the blood center for over twenty years and have been friends for longer than that. Eleanor currently volunteers as a donor room aide and Rita assists with registration. Rita began after her husband volunteered her when he became a member of the High Gallon Club. Eleanor was inspired to volunteer when her daughter worked in the blood center.
They also have both been volunteering at Bellin for about ten years. They currently help in the coffee shop making everything from coffee to smoothies. They also keep very busy in other ways. Before they volunteered together these good friends bowled together. Rita has always enjoyed spending time up north and Eleanor loves spending time with yard work and golfing.
They are both proud of their families. Rita has 2 daughters, 5 grandsons and 4 great grandchildren. Eleanor has 4 children, 10 grand children, and 17 great-grand children. “I had a handful but you really enjoy them as you get older,” says Eleanor. “I’m really proud of my children; they have been good to me.”
You will find Karen at the blood center registration every other Friday but the other Fridays she is helping with blood donor registration at Pilgrim Congregational Church.
“Registration is the front line of the process,” says Mary Brunner, Customer Service Representative, who schedules the volunteers in the blood center. “They meet and greet the donors while getting them through the process in an efficient manner. Time is so important to donors who want to get in and out.”
Lorraine and Karen
Karen started volunteering at the blood center when she retired from blood services in 2003 after 32 years of service. “It’s a wonderful organization that does so much good,” says Karen. “I couldn’t stay away.”
Karen also finds time for crafts, reading and extensive travel. She has also been enjoying her retirement by taking classes as a member of the Institute for Learning in Retirement. “I’m learning things I didn’t have room for in college,” says Karen.
Since retiring from Diana Manufacturing, Lorraine enjoys life. She spends time working in her yard, with her card club, going to church and anything that means getting out to meet people. Before retirement she thought she wouldn’t have anything to do but she has found many ways to spend her time. She has found she enjoys every minute of it. “I would suggest it to any body,” she says.
Lorraine has been volunteering with the Red Cross for 10 years and says she really enjoys it. Every Friday she assists in the canteen where she makes sure donors are comfortable by providing them with refreshments and plays a vital role as the eyes and ears of the blood center staff. In the event that a donor would become faint from donating blood the canteen volunteer is there to alert the staff quickly.
“The Red Cross relies on volunteers through out the community,” says Mary Brunner, Customer Service Representative, who schedules the volunteers in the blood center.
“We couldn’t do it with out them,” says Mary. “They add a personality, a smile, a thank you, and the caring concern they have for others.”
Fridays get a special touch by the TGIF Blood Center Ladies and every one of them says they come back so regularly because of the wonderful people. “It’s the thing to do on Fridays,” says Lorraine. “That and fish fry at night.”
Filed under: Giving Blood, Volunteers | Tagged: Blood Center, Eleanor Terrien, Karen Parfitt, Lorraine, Lorraine Nelson, Rita Haase, TGIF, Volunteers | Leave a Comment »
National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, is a time to celebrate volunteers. This year’s theme, Celebrating People in Action, aptly describes volunteers from Northeast Wisconsin. Red Cross volunteers are doers. Red Cross volunteers are people in action. Learn more about some of the amazing people who give of their time, talent, money and blood to support the organization.
Julie Wall knows how busy life can be but since a friend on the Lakeland Chapter Board encouraged her to become involved at the Red Cross she has been helping out as a member of the board of directors so the Red Cross can continue to be there in the community.
“Many people know about the blood donation portion of the Red Cross, but I think it is very important to spread the word about the other great things that the Red Cross provides to the community including the emergency disaster relief services, the transportation services, and the many community classes that are offered,” says Julie. “There are a lot of services that the Red Cross provides that I was not aware of until I became involved.”
Julie was born and raised in Green Bay. She received a degree in Business Management from the University of Wisconsin-Green Bay where she currently serves on the Founder’s Board. She works at M3 Insurance where she helps area organizations set up benefits packages and helps promote wellness initiatives.
Along with her husband, Jim, she is raising her family in the area. The couple have been married for 16 years and have two wonderful children, McKenna and Camden. Since McKenna and Camden are both active in basketball, softball, baseball and volleyball, they spend a lot of time in bleacher’s cheering them on.
Julie starts most mornings at the YMCA to kick start her day. The avid runner has participated in two full marathons and many half marathons. Right now she is training for the Green Bay Cellcom Half Marathon in May. “I also love to do local charity runs, especially the Breast Cancer Run as this cause is personal to me having lost my mother to breast cancer in 2006,” says Julie.
The importance of volunteering and giving back in the community was something Julie learned from her parents who were active in their church as well as St. Vincent De Paul and St. Vincent Hospital.
“No matter how busy you get with your own lives, there are always individuals or organizations that need your help. My parents raised 7 children and were very busy, but always found time to volunteer,” says Julie. “I want my children to learn that same sense of commitment from me and see the sense of pride that you get by volunteering and getting involved.”
Filed under: Volunteers | Tagged: American Red Cross, Board, Julie Wall, M3 Insurance, volunteer | Leave a Comment »
National Volunteer Week, April 10-16, is a time to celebrate volunteers. This year’s theme, Celebrating People in Action, aptly describes volunteers from Northeast Wisconsin. Red Cross volunteers are doers. Red Cross volunteers are people in action. Learn more about some of the amazing people who give of their time, talent, money and blood to support the organization.
As a transportation driver for the American Red Cross, Mark Riebe is responsible for getting people in need to medical appointments, the grocery store, and anywhere else they may need to go. He enjoys talking with his passengers about the “old days”.
Mark was an insurance adjuster for 25 years and a long time financial supporter of the Red Cross. After he retired he wanted to do something that would benefit those who needed help. “What better place to volunteer than the Red Cross?”
Mark was drawn to the transportation program. “Speaking for myself, that would be the single most difficult thing to lose, your ability to drive and thus your independence.”
Mark’s wife is a full time kindergarten teacher for the Green Bay School District. When he’s not driving, he is busy taking care of the house. He does all the cooking, cleaning, laundry and shopping. As he says: “What can be better than coming home after working all day with 5 and 6 year olds and having a nice meal and a clean house?”
Mark’s advice for anyone thinking about volunteering: “Don’t wait for the other guy to do it. The warm feeling you get when someone tells you how much they appreciate the ride you just gave them is better than anything else you can imagine.”
If you would like to volunteer as a transportation driver, contact Jody Weyers, Volunteer Director, American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter at 920-227-4287 or weyersj@arclakeland.org
Filed under: Transportation, Volunteers | Tagged: American Red Cross Lakeland Chapter, Mark Riebe, Transportation Driver, volunteer | Leave a Comment »
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