Nashville Area Volunteer Spotlight: Arvenia Pillow - July 2018

Our Volunteer Spotlight this month shines brightly on Arvenia Pillow, an upbeat, hard-working 72-year old who, in addition to her volunteer work for other agencies in Nashville, works as a follow-up case worker and all-around volunteer at the American Red Cross. Retired since 2008 from AT&T, Arvenia has three children: Frank, a retired pro football player for the Buccaneers; Beverly, a speech pathologist, and Angela, a civil engineer in Atlanta. She also has a five-year-old “puppy” named Gizmo.

Arvenia is a native Nashvillian, a graduate of the Meharry Hospital maternity department, and a parishioner at St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.  She’s a right-leg amputee, but, she says, with her prosthetic leg, “most people can’t even tell. I live life to the fullest, and my motto is “Never, never, ever, ever give up!”  Her busy schedule includes working at the Red Cross every day from 9-1, going to the gym three or four days a week, playing with Gizmo, keeping up with her children and grandchildren, watching football with her friends and relaxing on the weekends.  In her second year as a septuagenarian, Arvenia says, “Age is just a number! Life is good and it’s just what you make of it!”

The Nashville Chapter congratulates Arvenia Pillow for her good work for the Red Cross, her cheerful attitude, and her ongoing efforts to help others.

By Marvin Koch, American Red Cross Volunteer