On Friday mornings, Curt Ghylin gets many steps in during his morning volunteer shift at the VA Medical Center in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The steps add up to around four miles. “I feel pretty lucky,” says Curt, who is 87 years old.
He racks up the steps while he pushes patient after patient in wheelchair after wheelchair going from x-ray to lab to cardiology or other appointments. Established in 1923 for World War I veterans, the medical center is a sprawling complex on the National Register of Historic Places.
Curt has walked its halls for twenty-two years while serving as an American Red Cross volunteer supporting veterans who served in more recent armed conflicts. His role places him at the hub in Building One. Patient assignments arrive at the main entrance or on the house phone.
“Front desk, this is Curt. Can I help you?” he says when answering a call. The assignment will take around 30 minutes. At the pick-up point, “We’ve got the right guy,” he says, and takes the handles of a regular patient’s wheelchair and starts the journey.
“He’s got good legs,” says the patient when asked to describe Curt and his help for someone who’s just a couple several years older. “Good people here,” the patient adds.
You could call Curt good people or simply a veteran helping veterans. In the 1950s, he served with the North Dakota National Guard and then in the 1960s with the U.S. Air Force as a “crypto operator,” which supports information intelligence. His stations included Libya, Wyoming, Nebraska and Louisiana. After leaving the military, he became a teacher and then flourished as a computer programmer in Minnesota.
He retired in 2003, and he looked for places to volunteer. A church friend and Red Crosser recommended reaching out to the VA. He did and folks there agreed: Curt would be a great Red Cross rep. Since then, the steps haven’t stopped – from supporting people in their adult day care program to his current role as a greeter and escort, Curt has put in his miles.
“He needs a wheelchair? Big guy? Little guy?” Curt asks when the phone rings again. Curt tends to that request and returns to the desk. A man with striking white hair ambles up. “Thanks for your help this morning. Ninety-two years old. It happens fast,” he tells Curt. The two share a warm moment in a place where people make friends.
When the volunteer shift change happens, his replacement stops by and asks about Curt’s fall. A few weeks ago it landed him face down on the pavement while with his running group that’s now slowed to a stroll. He shows a photo of his broken nose. New to everyone is a scruff of beard covering his stitches and scars.
As soon as possible after the accident, he got back to his volunteer work at the VA and other community organizations in the St. Cloud area. “It’s important and there aren’t enough people doing it,” he says. “I was born to worry about somebody else.”
A bonus for Red Cross and those we serve: Curt is a regular blood donor who recently reached a 23-gallon milestone.
Story by Lynette Nyman with the American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region. To learn more about regional Service to the Armed Forces programs, please RedCross.org/MNDAKS.
We are deeply saddened to share that Peg passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025. Her unwavering dedication and years of service to the Red Cross left an indelible mark on our organization and all who had the privilege of working alongside her. As we remember Peg, we honor the incredible legacy she leaves behind – a legacy built on compassion, commitment, and a true passion for helping others.
For six decades, Peg Schaefer from Rochester, Minnesota, has embodied the spirit of the American Red Cross. Her remarkable journey of service has taken her across the globe, working at blood drives, responding to disasters, providing comfort and making a lasting impact on communities in need.
Peg, photographed in Byron, Minnesota (May 2025), ahead of an Employee Recognition Event, reflecting on her 60 years of service with the Red Cross. Photo submitted.
Beginning as a volunteer, Peg transitioned into staff roles, only to return to volunteering, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to the Red Cross mission. From earthquakes to tornados, typhoons to hurricanes, forest fires to floods, Peg has been there – comforting, supporting, and serving. Her dedication has taken her from Saipan to Alaska, from Hawaii to Puerto Rico, and across the mainland U.S., with every stop adding a chapter to her extraordinary story.
In February, Peg celebrated her 90th birthday. In addition to this milestone, there was a beautiful reason to celebrate: almost 60 years of Red Cross service. Officially, she will reach the 60-year milestone in January 2026, but as Peg jokes, “They don’t have a pin for 59 and a half years, so we just rounded it up and had a 60th celebration.”
Peg and Melanie Tschida, executive director of the Red Cross of Southern Minnesota, share a joyful moment celebrating Peggy’s 90th birthday and 60 years of service to the American Red Cross – a beautiful day filled with stories, laughter, and lasting friendships. Photo submitted.
Peg’s journey with the Red Cross began in 1966 while living in Alaska, where her husband was stationed with the military. At the time, the Red Cross was one of the “approved” ways for military wives to give back and it quickly became a perfect fit. Encouraged by an officer’s wife to get involved, Peg began volunteering at Bassett Army Hospital in Fort Wainwright.
Just a year later, in August 1967, a devastating flood hit Fairbanks, and hospital volunteers like Peg were asked to step in. “Would you be willing to do casework?” someone asked. “Sure!” Peg responded with enthusiasm. She vividly recalls the whirlwind of activity: “It was a zoo! Back then, we used adding machines,” she says with a laugh. “I’d take a long slip of itemized expenses to my supervisor so they could issue a check for the essentials people needed.”
Over the following years, Peg became the go-to person for anything Red Cross-related in her community. “That’s how it is in a small town,” she explained. “The Red Cross wasn’t in the phone book, so people who saw me at blood drives or knew me as a military wife would just call me directly. We always found a way to make it work.”
In 1984, Peg went on her first disaster assignment outside of her home chapter to help respond to flooding in Kentucky. That was just the beginning of many more to come.
Peg captured during a lighthearted moment while responding to floods in the Quad Cities — her experience along the Mississippi earned her the title “Queen of the Mississippi,” complete with crown and royal regalia! Photo submitted.
The Red Cross became a second family to Peg. “Even though she was away from us,” her daughter Sherri Demos shared, “we knew she was with her other family.” Peg echoed that sentiment: “I was never with strangers. There were always familiar faces – people I’d worked with before. We’d just pick up right where we left off, like no time had passed.”
After transitioning from volunteer to employee in 1989, her day-to-day work focused on visiting chapters across the Midwest, teaching classes, and evaluating disaster preparedness plans to help them get ready for emergencies they hoped would never come.
Peg working in her office at the Red Cross Dane County Chapter, Madison, Wisconsin. Photo submitted.
Peg quickly earned a reputation for her no-nonsense approach – she didn’t accept excuses and firmly believed that all members of the community must be included in the planning process, “because everyone deserves a helping hand.” More than once, Red Cross staff thanked her for pushing them to do the hard work upfront – “those detailed plans proved invaluable when disaster did strike their communities,” she says.
Peg credits her social work degree with helping her navigate disasters and support people during their most difficult moments. “Sometimes it’s tough to take,” she reflects, “but I think of the families and their needs.”
Peg deployed to Tuscaloosa, Alabama to support tornado response efforts in December 2000. Photo submitted.
One of her most meaningful memories was being deployed during the holidays in Alabama. Wanting to create some holiday cheer, she and other volunteers went to Walmart and bought the last Christmas tree available — a humble “Charlie Brown” tree – and a few ornaments. Back at their headquarters, she and her fellow volunteers decorated with whatever they had to make it festive for all who were away from home.
During the December tornado response in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, Peg was interviewed by CNN, offering insight from the front lines of disaster relief. On Christmas Day, she led an interfaith moment of reflection, inviting everyone to “silently ask for blessings in your own traditions,” as Red Cross staff paused to celebrate with food, music, and community in the midst of their tireless efforts. Photos submitted.
Since restaurants were set to be closed on Christmas Day, Peg asked the Mass Care team to find one that could prepare a holiday meal in advance. They located a restaurant willing to provide a traditional Christmas dinner – complete with three kinds of pie – for just $5 per person. The only requirement was that the meals be picked up early in the afternoon on Christmas Eve.
On Christmas Day, she and her team – Red Cross volunteers, FEMA staff, and volunteers from partner organizations – warmed each meal one by one in the microwave. “It was the most moving holiday I’ve ever had,” she recalls. “And also one of the funniest,” she adds with a smile. “Some of the volunteers rewrote ‘The 12 Days of Christmas’ with things every volunteer wishes for on deployment – like their own rental car. We couldn’t stop laughing.”
Over the years, Peg has witnessed countless changes in how the Red Cross operates, but her commitment has never wavered – even after retiring in 2011. “It’s in my blood,” she says. And true to her word, she continues to volunteer whenever she can: welcoming blood donors, teaching families about fire safety, and helping to recruit the next generation of volunteers. Though Peg admits, “I still have the urge to pack my suitcase,” she concedes that she no longer has the physical stamina for deployments. Still, her heart remains with the mission.
Her daughter Sherri adds, “Don’t underestimate my mom – she may be little, but she’s mighty. She’s a national treasure.”
Sherri shares an embrace with her mother Peg. “Don’t underestimate my mom,” Sherri says. “She may be small, but she’s mighty — a true national treasure.” Photo: Sue Thesenga/American Red Cross.
As Peg reflects on her 60 years of service, she effortlessly fills the conversation with stories of the people she’s met and the lifelong friendships she’s formed along the way. Her memories are rich and vivid, but what shines through the most is her conviction that it was never about her. For Peg, it was always a team effort – people coming together, each doing their part to make a difference.
What began in 1966, when a general’s wife encouraged her to volunteer with the Red Cross, blossomed into a lifetime of service. “It’s what I believe in – the mission and principles,” Peg says simply.
Thank you, Peg Schaefer, for your deep and enduring commitment to the American Red Cross. Your service has left a lasting legacy of compassion, resilience, and hope. You truly are a national treasure.
Slideshow of additional photos of Peg through the years:
Disaster response volunteer honored with regional Lifetime Achievement Award
In the small, scenic city of Redwood Falls, Minnesota – a place rooted in community – lives a woman whose quiet strength and unwavering compassion have rippled far beyond city limits. Her name is Diane – a Red Cross volunteer.
For 20 years, Diane Radel has been a steadfast presence in moments of crisis. From the wreckage of Hurricane Harvey to the fierce winds of Hurricane Ian, from catastrophic flooding in Louisiana, she has deployed to 18 national disasters. Closer to home, she’s responded to apartment fires and local disasters, always showing up when her community needs her most.
Diane on the ground during one of her many disaster deployments over the past 20 years — a testament to her decades of service and resilience. Photo submitted.
Her roles have varied – driving Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) to deliver warm meals, comforting survivors in emergency shelters, and distributing supplies to families facing unimaginable loss. But no matter the task, Diane brought more than resources – she brought hope, dignity, and a calming presence in moments of chaos.
A Calling Found in Crisis
Diane’s journey with the Red Cross began with a single image – a newspaper photo of volunteers in iconic red vests responding to a tornado in Buffalo Lake, Minnesota, in 2003. She didn’t know it then, but the image planted a seed.
In 2005, when Diane’s father passed away, she found her daily routine unraveled. “I was a lost pup,” she remembers. “I didn’t know what to do.”
Then came the call for volunteers after Hurricane Katrina. “They said it was a three-week deployment, all expenses paid,” Diane recalls. “I had the time. Although I had seven kids, three in college – it just lit a fire in me.”
Diane, wearing her Red Cross vest, stands with clean-up kits ready for distribution during a disaster deployment — one of many in her years of dedicated service. Photo submitted.
After speaking with fellow Red Cross volunteer Barb Billmeier, Diane took the leap. “It was the first time I’d ever been away from home that long,” she says. But her husband and children encouraged her, saying, “Go…they need you more than we do.”
With compassion as her guide, Diane stepped into the role of caring for people finding refuge in a Red Cross shelter helping those who had lost everything. That first deployment marked the beginning of a journey that has spanned two decades.
Service Across the Nation
Diane’s volunteer work took her to disaster zones across the U.S., including a Thanksgiving spent helping in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy in New York. “I thought I should be home with my family, but I just felt I needed to go and help,” she remembers, “but once again, they said, ‘Go…they need you more than we do.’”
One unforgettable memory from that deployment was delivering meals in the ERV to a high-rise in Chinatown that had lost power. “We didn’t serve the meals directly – we dropped them off. While waiting to pick up the food containers, Diane and fellow volunteers took a walking tour near Ground Zero, witnessing the rebuilding of the World Trade Center. “It was humbling,” she said. “A moment of grace in a difficult time.”
Diane also mentions her deployment to help those affected by Hurricane Helene last fall. She remembers the mountainous terrain and survivors still waiting for word on missing neighbors. “Someone said we needed to be strong for them – but no, we cried with them,” she recalls.
Diane, photographed near Asheville, North Carolina, during Hurricane Helene relief efforts in October 2024. Photo submitted.
A Life of Service
When asked what she’d say to someone considering volunteering with the Red Cross, Diane doesn’t hesitate. “Do it! It’s rewarding. Your heart has to be in it but give it a try. You’ll get way more back than you ever give.”
She speaks honestly about the challenges – long days, sleeping on cots, working with all kinds of people – but insists the rewards are worth it. “Any time you volunteer, it’s a blessing.”
Strength In the Face of Her Own Storm
In 2018, Diane faced a new battle: breast cancer. After a double mastectomy, chemo, radiation, and five years of treatment, she was declared cancer-free – until last year.
In November, scans revealed cancer had returned, spreading to her spine and lymph nodes.
“There’s no timeframe,” she says softly. “It wasn’t supposed to happen.”
Though her body has slowed, and she can no longer donate blood – once a treasured part of her Red Cross work – her spirit remains unshaken. “My heart is still in it, even if my body isn’t.”
A Lifetime of Meaning
Diane was recently honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Red Cross. She recalls, “As they were reading the award, I thought, wow, that sounds really good and then I realized, they were talking about me!”
Diane receives a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Red Cross, presented by Sean Farley-Cowdin, Senior Community Disaster Program Manager, at the Volunteer Recognition Event in Mankato, MN on May 20, 2025. A proud moment honoring years of dedicated service and compassion.
Sean Farley-Cowdin, Senior Community Disaster Program Manager for the Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region presented Diane with the award. “When the need is most, Diane doesn’t hesitate – she simply shows up. From the very beginning, with more than enough on her plate she had every reason to say, ‘not now,’ but she didn’t – she leaned in. She said yes. Yes, to her community. Yes, to the mission. Yes, to strangers facing the hardest day of their lives. Because for Diane, helping isn’t a duty – it’s who she is.”
Looking back, she says, “The years just flew by.” Each deployment forged lifelong friendship. “It all felt so natural – it’s my passion and what I was always meant to do.”
To serve with such compassion for 20 years requires an extraordinary heart. Diane’s legacy lives on in every life she’s touched – not through fanfare, but through quiet heroism, deep empathy and human connection.
Her story reminds us that true service comes from love – and a heart that never stops giving.
“The forecast is predicting a severe hurricane season this year,” she says, “I wish I could be there to help – it’s in my heart.”
For all who know her, one thing is certain: the world is better because Diane chose to help – again and again – with love, conviction, and a full heart.
If you have a heart to help like Diane, learn about Red Cross volunteer opportunities near you visit redcross.org/givetime.
When disaster strikes, the Red Cross steps in to help — and so do the people behind the mission. Karen Younger, a retired military nurse, college professor and dedicated volunteer with the American Red Cross Eastern South Dakota chapter, is one of those people whose compassionate heart have brought hope to countless individuals in their darkest moments.
Karen’s journey with the Red Cross began in 2013. Since then, she has become a vital leader in Disaster Health Services, bringing her experience in adult and critical care nursing, military service, and higher education to the frontlines of disaster response. Her approach combines clinical expertise with an unwavering commitment to dignity, respect, and service.
Karen Younger pictured with fellow Red Cross volunteers Katie Gilmore and Patti Vaska when they received their Red Cross nursing pins. The three trained together for Disaster Health Services and have remained close friends ever since. Now retired, they continue to stay actively involved with the American Red Cross in the Sioux Falls, South Dakota area. Also pictured is Tim Klein (far left), an EMT who received his EMT pin during the ceremony. Photo submitted.
A Story of Compassion During Hurricane Helene
When asked to share one of her most memorable moments as a Red Cross nurse, Karen reflects on her deployment during Hurricane Helene.
“It was a chaotic, emotional time for many,” she recalls. “Especially those who turned to Red Cross shelters as a last resort.”
One story, in particular, has stayed with her. A woman arrived at the shelter with young children and a family pet. She was sick, scared, and had no one else to turn to. On top of flu-like symptoms and needing an urgent prescription refilled, she was overwhelmed by the thought of navigating a hospital visit alone and leaving her kids behind.
She asked Karen if she would go to the hospital with her while a social worker watched the children. Karen agreed without hesitation.
At the hospital, Karen acted not just as a nurse, but as a calm and supportive advocate. She helped explain the woman’s medical history to the doctor and ensured her concerns were addressed. “That extra support made all the difference,” Karen said.
When the visit was over, the woman turned to her and said, “You’re a miracle worker.” Karen just smiled and replied, “No, I’m a Red Cross nurse. This is what we do.”
It’s a phrase she’s said many times, because for Karen, helping people through fear, confusion, and uncertainty is more than a duty — it’s a calling.
A National Honor for Outstanding Service
On April 3, 2025, Karen’s exceptional service was recognized on a national stage. During the Leadership Awards Luncheon at the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., she received the Bob Hassmiller Excellence in Disaster Services Award.
Karen Younger at the Leadership Awards Luncheon on April 3, 2025, held at the American Red Cross National Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Pictured left to right: Trevor Riggins, President of Humanitarian Services, American Red Cross; Karen Younger; Gail McGovern, Chairman of the Board of Governors, American Red Cross; and Cliff Holtz, CEO, American Red Cross. Photo by Dermot Tatlow/American Red Cross
This award celebrates a volunteer who has demonstrated extraordinary leadership and commitment, improving disaster response through innovation, collaboration, and impact.
One of her most notable achievements was leading a regional initiative that aligned Red Cross health services with each state’s nursing licensure laws across South Dakota, North Dakota, and Minnesota. Thanks to her efforts, Red Cross nurses are now able to provide care seamlessly and legally across state lines. This groundbreaking effort not only improved care for disaster survivors in the region but also established a new national model for delivering disaster health services in rural and underserved areas.
Tonya Peterson, Senior Community Disaster Program Manager for the Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region, praised Karen’s work:
“Karen’s work has made a lasting difference – whether she’s helping someone manage a medical condition in the middle of a disaster or mentoring new volunteers stepping into this work for the first time. She doesn’t just show up – she listens, she leads, and she lifts others up.”
Tonya Peterson and Karen Younger at the April 3, 2025, Leadership Awards Luncheon held at the American Red Cross National Headquarters, Washington, DC. Photos by Dermot Tatlow/American Red Cross
As part of the award, a $1,000 grant will be donated to the Red Cross of Eastern South Dakota, further supporting the lifesaving mission that Karen holds so close to her heart.
A Legacy of Service and Humanity
Karen describes her time with the Red Cross as both meaningful and humbling. “I consider it an incredible privilege to be part of the Red Cross,” she says. “When I retired, I wanted to keep using my skills to serve others. The Red Cross has been a perfect fit.”
For Karen, the transition from her nursing career to to the Red Cross was seamless thanks to the shared values of humanity, impartiality and neutrality. “We treat everyone with dignity and respect. That’s what our profession is built on. We don’t engage in the noise, we can stay focused on the mission,” she explains.
She also speaks passionately about the power of teamwork. “There’s real power in doing this work alongside others who share the same purpose. I’ve made lifelong friends and shared unforgettable moments with people I may never see again. But we supported each other, and we knew we were making a difference. That’s incredibly rewarding.”
In Hawaii for the Lahaina fire response, January 2024. Pictured left to right Trisha Mims, then DHS Senior Program Manager, Karen Younger, and Denise Cohen, Client Care Chief for the DRO and a dedicated nurse. Photo submitted.
Congratulations, Karen. Your leadership, heart, and service are an inspiration. Your legacy is already making a lasting impact in communities across the country — and we’re all better for it. Thank you!
Growing up, I was always very close to my grandmother, June (Ahlfs) Qualy. She taught me to read by the age of three embroider by the age of seven and the importance of helping those who need the most help by 12, at which time she encouraged me to take my first Red Cross class in babysitting. While most pre-teens spent their time at the mall or playing with makeup, I was busy learning the basics of survival skills and how to properly tie a makeshift sling in case of a broken arm. By 16 I was in Red Cross lifeguarding classes and became First Aid and CPR certified via a college class at 21. June was always a beacon of light in my life, modelling what a responsible, compassionate person in our society looks like.
Sarah Qualy (left) sharing a moment with her grandmother June, Summer 1991.
It wasn’t until I joined the American Red Cross in 2022 that I started learning more about June’s time serving with the Red Cross in World War II. She had just graduated from St. Catherine University in 1945, where she was an active member of the League of Women Voters, and then entered the nursing service of the Red Cross. June was deployed to Hiroshima and Tokyo, Japan, where she witnessed firsthand the devastating aftermath of the war. Her experiences there shaped her perspective on human suffering and the power of compassion to heal.
June served with the Red Cross until she decided to marry and start a family in 1949. However, her commitment to helping others didn’t end there. She went on to have a wonderfully impactful career at Saint Mary’s in Minneapolis as a chemical dependency counselor at their inpatient rehabilitation facility. June was known to be the toughest counselor on staff, often assigned the patients who were least likely to recover. Her approach was firm but compassionate, believing in the potential for change in even the most challenging cases.
“June always said, ‘see the need, meet the need’ and that keeps me going every day.” – Sarah Qualy, June’s granddaughter
June’s dedication and unique methods led to an alarming success rate despite the odds. Her work was so influential that former patient Barry B. Longyear wrote a book about her in the 1980s called “Saint Mary Blue.” This book not only chronicled June’s methods but also highlighted the lasting impact she had on countless lives.
When I think about June, I think about the tenacity of what it means to be a woman in times of crisis. Much like our Red Cross matriarch, Clara Barton, June embodied the spirit of humanitarianism that requires not only compassion and philanthropy but also courage and defiance. In this spirit, I’m reminded of my favorite Clara Barton quote: “I have an almost complete disregard of precedent, and faith in the possibility of something better. It irritates me to be told how things have always been done. I defy the tyranny of precedent. I go for anything new that might improve the past.”
While my Grandma June is no longer with us, having passed away at almost 90 in 2013, I know that I carry her light within. There’s a fire inside me that I learned from her, to step up for our community in times of tribulation. To not fear the emotions of disaster, but to use them to alchemize into action. June always said, “see the need, meet the need” and that keeps me going every day. Her legacy lives on through the countless lives she touched and through those of us who continue to serve in the spirit of the Red Cross.
By Sarah Qualy, proud Red Crosser, following in her grandmother’s footsteps
As we celebrate March as both Red Cross Month and Women’s History Month, honor June’s legacy by joining the American Red Cross in our mission to alleviate human suffering—whether it’s through volunteering, donating blood, or making a financial contribution, your support can make a difference in your community and beyond. Visit RedCross.org/MNDAKS to get involved.
By Mary Patterson, Minnesota and Dakotas Region digital communications volunteer
When I first started high school, a banner in our cafeteria for the school’s fall blood drive caught my eye. I wasn’t old enough to donate, and I wasn’t yet part of the student groups organizing it. By my junior year, all that changed.
In the fall of 2021, I joined the Student Council and become a member of the National Honor Society. My math teacher, Ms. Arnold, was the advisor for both of these groups. On the agenda of the first student council meeting was the topic of the fall blood drive. Ms. Arnold shared her personal story about donating blood in memory of her father, who had been a lifelong blood donor after receiving a blood transfusion following a motorcycle accident.
I had volunteered in various ways before but never felt a spark or drive to a specific cause. However, I was eager to complete my service hours, and the blood drive sounded like a great way to get started.
Mary Patterson gives a thumbs up during a successful blood donation – December, 2024. (Photo submitted.)
Having turned 16 in 2020, I had to ask my parents’ permission to donate at the drive. Minnesota is one of 37 states to allow 16-year-old blood donors! With their blessing, I registered to donate and signed up to volunteer at the drive.
I woke up nervous the day of the drive. I had made sure to sleep well the night before and eat a good meal before heading to school. But what if the needle hurt a lot? What if I fainted? In the end, I felt completely well after my donation. We wrapped up the day with 71 donors and 217 lives saved!
“Besides the ‘good feels’ of being a teacher, this is one of the things I am most proud of – teaching the next generation to help people around them, even those they don’t know, is so important,” said Ms. Arnold. “Donating blood is something almost everyone can do so I encourage all my eligible students to do it. I know some students volunteer just so they can get out of class, but hopefully a habit is starting to form.”
I was eligible to donate again at the Spring 2022 blood drive, no longer requiring parental permission at age 17. This time, however, I ended up on a mat on the gym floor, dizzy and pale. A few weeks later, a letter from the Red Cross arrived in the mail explaining that I had an iron deficiency and was now ineligible to donate for one year. While this did explain the drastic difference in my donations, I was incredibly disappointed, as I had just been eligible to donate a few short months before. Not only that, what if this deficiency lasted so long I couldn’t donate again? Despite this, I knew how it had felt to give my time as well as my blood, so I was determined to remain involved in the school drives, taking volunteer shifts during my lunch hour at the sign-up table and helping donors at the drives feel at ease both during and after donating.
From my first two donations, I learned three valuable things: I had a health condition, but it was treatable, and, most importantly, I wouldn’t have known if I hadn’t tried to donate blood. I was committed to donating again: I adjusted my diet to include higher iron intake, got cleared by my physician, and fulfilled the one year waiting period, I signed up to donate again, and was successful! I was so relieved to know I was healthy enough to donate again, as I went into this donation attempt even more nervous than my first. Since regaining eligibility, I donate close to every 56 days as possible.
Miss Dakota County volunteers at the University of Minnesota Red Cross Club blood drive, lending her support to this important cause. (Photo submitted.)
In my first year of college, I got involved with the University of Minnesota Red Cross Club as a blood donor. In my second year, I got more involved by volunteering at four on campus drives in the fall semester. Then, in October 2024, at age 19, I ran for a local title to the Miss Minnesota Scholarship Program, through the Miss America Opportunity. As a contestant, I needed to create a Community Service Initiative to focus on during my candidacy and potential year of service. For me, it was a no-brainer: my passion for blood donation had only grown since I started. After seeing the critical need for blood in our nation, having learned from the representatives that spoke to my school and from Ms. Arnold, I was finally feeling that spark towards a cause. To run for Miss Dakota County, I created The Power of Red: Blood Donation and Blood Health Awareness.
The Power of Red aims to enhance donor accessibility as well as create awareness about the critical need for blood. This is accomplished through my social media campaign that features weekly blood drive locations, fun facts about donation and blood health, and provides resources to help individuals schedule and prepare for donation appointments. This platform shows the benefits to both the donor and recipient: the urgent need for blood is combined with the knowledge that donors receive about their health. My personal experience showed me that blood donation has benefits beyond saving others: it just may help you save yourself.
Miss Dakota County, Mary Patterson, shares exciting news on Instagram: she’s now a Red Cross digital volunteer! Mary is using her platform to raise awareness and educate her followers about the critical need for blood donations.
Today, at age 20, I am honored to share that I won the title of Miss Dakota County 2025 this past October. I’ve started 2025 by becoming an official American Red Cross volunteer. I am eager to take The Power of Red to the Miss Minnesota stage this summer and show this great state the impact we can make by rolling up a sleeve to give the gift of life! I will be continuing my work by keeping my social media campaign up to date, continuing my volunteering with the U of M Red Cross Club in addition to regular donation, and finally, hosting my first blood drive in early June.
I recently asked Ms. Arnold what she would say after seeing me go from a first-time blood donor to an advocate volunteering with the Red Cross, and raising awareness for this cause on a state level as a Miss Minnesota candidate. She replied, “Thank you! Any way to bring attention to this lifesaving opportunity is a great one!”
Among the many roles that volunteers can fill on a Red Cross mission, one of the most rewarding is that of the ERV Driver. These teams, which often consist of two individuals, drive Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicles and deliver food from community feeding partners to points of distribution after a disaster so that displaced families can pick up a hot meal.
Jennie and Jezzalyn Ringler serve up meals from the ERV in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo: Nate Russell)
This crucial role helps individuals and families feel a semblance of comfort and normalcy so that they have the energy needed to plan their next steps towards recovering from a disaster.
Often this role is filled by married couples, sometimes by strangers who become friends over the course of their mission, but very rarely do we see a team that consists of a parent and child. Jennie and Jezzalyn Ringler from central Minnesota are one such dynamic duo!
This is Jezzalyn’s first deployment as a Red Cross volunteer, “I don’t think she’s sick of me yet!” remarked her mother Jennie.
Jennie and Jezzalyn starting out their deployment journey at the airport. (Photo submitted)
This is not Jennie’s first deployment, she’s been an ERV driver since about 2011. She loves working on a team “You get a groove going and you can keep it that way.”
Jezzalyn says her favorite part of being on an ERV Team is the people and the stories. “We’ve got regulars, we see them every day. We get to hear about their lives, about their recovery. Many of them are military veterans.”
Mother/daughter duo work hand-in-hand serving meals to those affected by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo: Nate Russell)
The Ringlers’ ERV is parked at the Buncombe County Sports Park, at one of our Community Care Centers. Here, hurricane impacted individuals and families can do their laundry, take a shower, pick up supplies such as jugs of potable water, and of course pick up a hot meal. “We’ve served close to 100 meals today,” says Jezzalyn.
Visit here to find a Community Care Center and other resources.
Story by American Red Cross volunteer Nate Russell.
“Because I feel passionate about mission of the Red Cross, I took two weeks’ vacation from my regular full-time job to deploy to Macon, Georgia, to help with hurricane relief efforts, and I would do it again in a heartbeat,”said Red Cross volunteer Cara from Yankton, South Dakota.
Cara recently returned home from Georgia and quickly chose to extend her service for another week virtually. She said during this assignment her primary responsibility involved working in the office, but she did have the chance to work in the field for a day doing damage assessment.
Cara (pictured left) with Red Crossers Cortney and Jamar. Cara and Cortney had worked together on other disaster relief operations, but only virtually. This was the first time they had the opportunity to work together in person. (Photo submitted)
“Although most of my time was behind the scenes, I was doing a job that I love,” explained Cara. “The people you meet and bonds you make through these shared experiences are the things that make it so easy to say ‘yes’ when I get a call, especially when work and family commitments fall in line and I was able to get away for two weeks.”
At the end of each workday, her team reviewed daily achievements and the forthcoming day’s priorities. “I was energized and amazed by the stories from the field,” Cara said. “The impact of the Red Cross’s work – whether it was the number of meals served or people sheltered was astonishing. Fellow volunteers shared about being recognized with their Red Cross vests on – and how it gave people hope that we were there to help.”
Cara (pictured left) pictured with fellow volunteer Dee Dee Larson from our Minnesota and Dakotas Region. (Photo submitted)
A heartbreaking memory of her deployment was the day she conducted damage assessment in the field. Witnessing the aftermath of the hurricane was an emotional reminder of the importance and relevance of the work the Red Cross does.
One of the unforgettable encounters Cara had was with a man whose home was severely damaged – living without electricity and a fallen tree in his living area. When the storm hit, he woke up from sleeping and went outside to get his dog, but found the dog had passed away after a tree had fallen on his doghouse. “If he had made it outside in time to get his dog, they both would have been sleeping in the room where the tree fell through the house,” Cara sadly recalls. “I will never forget that experience.”
Cara’s biggest takeaway from this experience was the understanding that every role, whether front-line or behind the scenes, contributes toward a unified goal. “There are lots of moving pieces in a disaster relief operation, pieces that frequently change but all have a way of coming together. And that, to me, is the meaning of One Red Cross!”
In the wake of Hurricanes Helene and Milton, countless families were torn apart. Amidst the chaos, the Red Cross reunification teams worked tirelessly to bring hope and connection back to those affected. This vital work continues as the Red Cross remains committed to reuniting loved ones and restoring communication disrupted by these devastating storms. While this service may not receive as much attention as other disaster relief efforts, it has handled over 11,500 inquiries, helping to mend the broken lines of communication.
Alex Wincell, a dedicated Red Cross volunteer from the Minnesota and Dakotas Region, was virtually deployed to the reunification team. “I knew I couldn’t go in person due to some obligations at home, but I wanted to help,” Alex shared. She was quickly assigned to the task just days after the chaos ensued, when the situation was still highly uncertain.
Red Cross volunteer Alex Wincell, pictured in 2020, helping with a local fire response in Minneapolis. Photo by Lynette Nyman – American Red Cross.
This was Alex’s first experience with reunification work. “I was able to use my case work background which was extremely useful. If you like puzzles, this would be a good role for you because its creative problem solving. It’s fascinating and very meaningful when all the pieces come together.”
Among her many contributions, Alex recalls a particularly touching case where she assisted an 83-year-old woman in locating her long-time friend and colleague, an 86-year-old resident from Asheville, North Carolina. The two had been in contact shortly before the storm, but Alex only had the friend’s phone number, not an address.
Reuniting friends can be more challenging than family members, as families often have networks to aid in making contact. Despite this, after ten days of diligent effort, Alex was able to reach the woman’s daughter, who confirmed that her mother had weathered the storms and was safe.
In another case, Alex was tasked with finding an elderly person living in a remote area cut off by blocked roads and out-of-service landlines. Using tools like property records and Google, she managed to contact the woman’s neighbor. They agreed to bring their cell phone to her house so that Alex could speak with her directly.
In this reunion, there was so much gratification, and I know how much both parties appreciated our efforts,” Alex reported.
“Even through the phone, I could tell it made the person who was found happy to know that someone was looking for her.”
Reflecting on her virtual deployment, Alex noted that while she prefers working in person, “this type of work makes sense to do virtually since it all begins with the seeker who can be from anywhere in the country or the world. It still gave me a lot of client contact and it was a very rewarding experience.”
This story is just one example of how the Red Cross is committed to alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies. If you are inspired by Alex’s story and want to make a difference, consider volunteering or donating to the Red Cross today. To apply to become a Red Cross volunteer visit redcross.org/givetime, to donate visit redcross.org or text the word HURRICANES to 90999.
“Everything was good until Beryl came,” says Delta Alexander, a lifelong resident of Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
“Everything was good until Beryl came,” says Delta Alexander, who was born and raised on Union Island in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. She is grateful for the care and support that the local Red Cross provided following Hurricane Beryl. Photo: Lynette Nyman/IFRC
She’s thankful for the care and support the local Red Cross provided after Hurricane.
Beryl. Delta left Union Island in 1969, always planning to return, and in 2015, after retiring from a nursing career in Canada and the U.S., she came back to rebuild her life.
For the next three years, she built a home and continued her humanitarian work in this tight-knit community. The hurricane hasn’t slowed her down.
“The people I’m grieving for are those in shelters. They have no money, nowhere to go. They lost everything, houses, clothing, even underwear,” she says.
Her house, situated on low land near the shore, was quickly surrounded by high water during the category 5 storm that struck parts of the Caribbean on July 1. The winds, too, were a threat. For four hours, she held back a door, dislocating her shoulder. At 78, her strength and generosity are inspiring.
“I saw death right there. How am I going to escape?” she recalls asking herself during the storm.
The trauma connected her with St. Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross (SVGRC) volunteers who responded to help people on multiple islands and the mainland.
Early in the emergency, Red Cross volunteers set up relief operations at a church on Union Island, distributing non-food items as well as a space for people to share their experiences – it was much-needed and appreciated emotional support.
“Red Cross was wonderful. People were very nice. So soothing. Helpful and encouraging,” says Delta.
Small society, many hazards
The SVG Red Cross is a young national society that gained its independence from the British Red Cross in 1984. Today, the SVGRC is comprised of a nearly 100 percent volunteer workforce, including key leaders like Shaneika Laidlow who manages their disaster and mental health programs. Their aim, she says, is to help people get back to normalcy.
“We offer assistance to those who most need it, to the best of our ability,” says Shaneika Laidlow, who manages disaster and mental health programs for the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross. Photo: Lynette Nyman/IFRC
“During these times people can get very frustrated. Does the Red Cross care for them?” says Shaneika, who is based in the nation’s capital on the mainland, St. Vincent. The answer is yes.
“There are so many people we would love to make better, but there are some things we’re unable to do at this time because of restraints. We offer assistance to those who most need it to the best of our ability,” she says.
The scope of the work, and the potential need, is challenging. This small nation and Red Cross society faces multiple hazards, including tropical storms, flooding, hurricanes, and even an active volcano.
In early October, monitoring showed unusual thermal activity of the La Soufriere volcano – activating the government to issue a low-level warning and close the trail to the summit.
La Soufriere, shrouded in clouds, is an explosive volcano that most recently erupted in 2021. It’s one of several hazards facing the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Red Cross. Photo: Lynette Nyman/IFRC
The thermal anomaly stopped, but reminded many of past explosive eruptions like the most recent in 2021 when, on April 9, the dome inside the crater blew and for days spewed devastating volcanic ash across communities.
“It was like the sun was out, but not there. It was all dark,” remembers Edwin Joe, who lived in the countryside distant from the ‘red zone’. He remembers ash covering everything. “Just white everywhere, like bright snow with no sun. We didn’t know what was going to happen.”
Edwin Joe evacuated the St. Vincent, the mainland, for two weeks following the eruption of the volcano La Soufriere in 2021 and returned to find houses that had roofs collapsed from the volcanic ash. Photo: Lynette Nyman/IFRC
Edwin evacuated the mainland for two weeks and returned to find some houses that had roofs collapsed from the volcanic ash. Many people stayed in shelters for several months.
The Red Cross formed part of the response with the government and other emergency partners, providing water, relief items and temporary housing assistance.
Help around the corner
The good news is that during challenging times a small Red Cross society like the SVGRC can turn to other national societies for help, primarily through the International Red Cross and Red Crescent (IFRC).
Raziel Uranga, a Mexican Red Cross responder with decades of disaster response experience deployed through the IFRC ‘surge’ program to serve as response operations support in St. Vincent and the Grenadines. His predecessor, he says, arrived just a few days after the hurricane, helping the SVGRC manage a large disaster response.
Photo 4 – Small Red Cross societies “need support from the global Red Cross network in order to grow as fast as they can, especially with the multiple hazards they’re facing,” says Raziel Uranga from the Mexican Red Cross, now deployed to support the SVG Red Cross provide relief for people affected by Hurricane Beryl. Photo: Lynette Nyman/IFRC
“Red Cross is the best humanitarian movement in the world, I am convinced, because no other organization has the workforce that we have,” says Raziel, whose passion lies in reducing risks amid the rising frequency of severe disasters.
Responders and donors from around the world – and in their own communities – have provided relief for people affected by Hurricane Beryl.
It’s uplifting for many to see this unified effort. And yet, when something big happens, a small national Red Cross society like the SVGRC needs help to do its best now and beyond.
“They need support from the global Red Cross network in order to grow as fast as they can, especially with the multiple hazards they’re facing,” says Raziel.
These hazards can destroy homes and livelihoods. Building back both is the focus on Mayreau, an islet just a short boat ride from Union. Wheelbarrow by wheelbarrow, people are removing rubble to restore the island’s sole income, tourism.
“We have to clean up this island to get tourism back – to get people back from Martinique – to see the turtles,” says Patrick Forde, a water-taxi driver before the storm.
“We have to clean up this island to get tourism back – to get people back from Martinique – to see the turtles,” says Patrick Forde, a water-taxi driver before the storm devastated Mayreau, an islet in the Grenadines. Photo: Lynette Nyman/IFRC
Patrick rode out the hurricane in a small cupboard with his two children. “I’m lucky to be alive,” he says when looking back.
Tiny but mighty, what he loves about his island is the way people unite. “Whenever there’s a disaster, we all show up and work together.”
Learn more about the work of Red Cross societies around the world, like SVGRC, through the IFRC, click here.
American Red Cross Minnesota and Dakotas Region 