Heart of Tennessee Volunteer Spotlight, Sandra Wilson - March 2018

This month the volunteer spotlight shines on Sandra Wilson.  Sandra joined the Heart of Tennessee chapter in June, 2017. After hearing Reina Teems speak at the St. Clare Senior Center in Murfreesboro, Sandra thought serving as a Red Cross volunteer would be a good way to give back. She previously had been a volunteer for Blood Services at a time when nurses volunteers could perform the intake services - filling out forms, taking blood pressure, all the tasks that are done before the actual blood collection.

Sandra was born in East Tennessee, raised in Cumberland and is a nurse by training.  She has resided in Murfreesboro since the early 1970s. After raising 2 sons, she was a public health nurse for several years, then worked in rehab and long-term care at the VA for 14 years. Sandra returned to her first love, public health nursing and worked throughout Rutherford County at a time when public health nurses were active in rural areas, visiting people in their homes. Back then, this meant travel through a very rural Rutherford County.

Today, Sandra remains a very busy lady. She is involved in many areas of the community. She is a member of the Lioness Club, which is part of the Lions Club. They participate in many worthy activities, including eyeglass collection. As a member of the St. Clare Senior Center, Sandra helps with activities and shares duties with other member nurses to take blood pressure readings every week for members. The DAR chapter to which Sandra belongs adopted a school.  One of the activities that Sandra loves is to get out her red and white striped hat and go to the school on Dr. Seuss’s birthday to read to the children. Teachers and children love this. Sandra also volunteers at her church and is involved in a local ministry called WINGS which is a group to help people who have lost a relationship through death, divorce, abandonment, or imprisonment. Sandra’s 2 sons have families of their own now. She enjoys her time with them and loves to travel, although she doesn’t do as much as she would like.

Sandra has a favorite bookmark with the words “God blesses those who serve.”  She enjoys volunteering and this is her way of serving.

Say hi to Sandra on Tuesdays at the reception desk at the Heart of Tennessee chapter office.  Heart of Tennessee thanks Sandra for her time and service to the Red Cross!