National Volunteer Week - Michael Jones

Michael Jones, center right, with fellow Red Cross Club Council Members following a Pillowcase Project presentation.

Michael Jones has a heart for disaster services. He is frequently adding to a portfolio of disaster training and service leadership. Since the fall of 2012, Michael has given 540 hours of service to the Red Cross.

He often signs up for volunteer opportunities before being asked by going on to Volunteer Connection weeks before our youth meetings. His eagerness to advance the mission of the Red Cross is amazing. As the Chapter Club Council Secretary, Michael dedicates a great deal of time at home tracking service opportunities and reminding the youth of upcoming volunteer events. He also manages the youth Group Share page on Volunteer Connection.

In addition, he has been instrumental in leading the youth in League of Mascot events around our city. He supervises this aspect of the youth council by making sure the youth are trained and prepared to represent the Red Cross as Mack the Disaster Dog, our chapter’s mascot. Michael is an awesome young man who is passionate about service, professional in all he does, and is a reliable volunteer.

To register to become a Red Cross volunteer and to see Red Cross volunteer opportunities in your area, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

Intern and Youth Volunteer Jocelyn Porter

Jocelyn (right) at 2012 Donorama Blood Drive

Hello, my name is Jocelyn Porter and I am a youth volunteer for the Louisville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross. I just completed a five month internship here and am continuing my service through the Chapter Club Council, (Louisville’s chapter club). These past five months have been instrumental to my growth as a high school student. I’ve developed many noteworthy skills and have been given amazing opportunities.

There are three ways to volunteer with the American Red Cross:

1. in a group such as your Girl Scout troop, church youth group, or school beta club
2. in a Red Cross club at your school or in your local chapter
3. as an individual volunteer

I am a member of the Red Cross Club at the Louisville Area Chapter and as mentioned before I am also a student intern. As a part of my internship, I came in three times a week to complete office administrative tasks along with Public Relations related assignments. Some of my office administrative duties included data entry in the volunteer office.

One very important task I completed was to catalog the volunteer pins given out before our newest computer system update. My help in this effort made it possible for seasoned and dedicated volunteers to be awarded for their hard work over the years. I recorded the names of volunteers and the awards they had been given so that we knew when it was time for them to receive another award based on the years of their service. I created a database of this information and cataloged names and awards from 1986 to 2011.

I have also made phone calls to youth in the community who have expressed interest in becoming a youth volunteer for the Louisville Chapter Club like me. I’ve put together bulletin boards in the building elevators that have announcements Red Cross employees should be aware of. These projects as well as the many other activities I do at the Red Cross are important for many reasons--they open the door for more volunteers, allow information to be stored in a more organized form, and contribute to the mission of the Red Cross as a whole.

I have acquired 90 hours this year. My favorite project that I have done thus far has been the Pin project. I was able to see just how many people over the years have volunteered their time to help their local Red Cross reach its goal of serving people worldwide and how committed those people have been. Some have been working with the Red Cross for 50 years.

I would definitely encourage other youth in the community to volunteer with the Red Cross because it is a way to help save lives even though you may not be old enough to give blood. It is a group effort, and by volunteering at blood drives or working in the office, you are helping to fulfill the mission of this worthwhile organization

-Jocelyn Porter

Why I Volunteer - Brianna Rodgers

The following was written by Brianna Rodgers, a youth volunteer administrative assistant at the Louisville Area Chapter who loves art and creative writing. She is a junior at J. Graham Brown School in Louisville.

I guess you can say that I have a desire to give and help out in any way I can. From a little girl on up I would always do something that was related to volunteering, no matter if it was lending a hand at a food drive from Dare to Care or becoming a C.I.T (Counselor in Training) at the YMCA I would always help out. The Red Cross and I share similar traits, which are the need to create change and the determination to follow through with our goals and mission.

The fact that I can save at least one person’s life is a blessing in itself, therefore, I'm grateful for this wonderful opportunity to help out with others who share the same goal as me. It is also a goal of mine to strive for change and peace among all nations. Because of this I stay updated on international current events and read about humanitarian law. It's a comfort to know that there are others like me, working together and living up to the Red Cross Mission.

We are living in a world where our technological advances bring us together and amplify our voices across the globe. Youth have historically played a very important role in the Red Cross and we are continuing that tradition. I am really excited to continue the legacy of Youth Volunteers at the Red Cross.

If you are interested in becoming a youth volunteer please e-mail our Youth Coordinator Kristen Lawrence at Kristen.Lawrence@redcross.org.

Youth Programs return to Louisville Area Chapter

We are excited to announce the re-boot of a chapter Youth Program for volunteers ages 12-17. Youth volunteers will now have the opportunity to get involved with the Red Cross in one of three ways: volunteer individually, join a Red Cross Club or partner with the Red Cross through a separate group or club (e.g. Girl Scouts, Civil Air Patrol).

Leading the chapter program is Youth Coordinator Kristen Lawrence. Kristen is a Louisville native who graduated from the University of Louisville with a bachelor’s degree in Sociology. Before coming to the Red Cross, she worked with the YMCA Youth Achievers and the Louisville Youth Advocates, a group that petitions for policy change in west Louisville neighborhoods.

Having both participated in and led community groups such as the YMCA Leader’s Club and Black Achievers, Kristen is familiar with effective youth programs and understands what draws youth to participate in clubs—things like hands-on experience, networking opportunities and making friends.

“A lot of [youth] genuinely want to make a difference—not just for the name, but because they want to do something good,” said Kristen.

Currently, Kristen is meeting with youth coordinators throughout the Louisville region to collect ideas and best practices. Once the Louisville Area Chapter program is fully up and running, she hopes to collaborate with other groups to develop a region-wide event or initiative.

At this time, the program is in its recruiting phase. Once registered, new volunteers attend a youth volunteer orientation where they learn the history of the Red Cross, participate in games and learn about volunteer opportunities. If you know someone between the ages of 12 and 17 that is interested in becoming a Red Cross youth volunteer, please contact Kristen at (502) 561-3608 or e-mail kristen.lawrence@redcross.org.