Nashville Area Volunteer Spotlight: Denisha White - December 2018

Denisha White is the subject of our Volunteer Spotlight this month. In her work life, Denisha works for the Veterans Administration, but she also works as a volunteer for the Red Cross in various types of military and veteran-related activities as many as 40-60 hours a month (or more,) depending on what’s going on. She’s 40 years old and is a native Nashvillian. She graduated from Antioch High School, and she’s taken history and education courses at Volunteer State Community College. Denisha lives with Mya, her “very smart, mixed-breed dog.”

Denisha is instrumental in many Red Cross events and projects such as The Pillowcase Project, where 3rd-to-5th grade children are given a presentation about preparing for emergencies such as tornado or fire, and are given a pillowcase that they can decorate as a go-bag, along with a handbook for the parents. Typically, children want to take things like flashlights, radios, games and other toys, and their parents work with them to make sure the kits aren’t too heavy and have appropriate items in them.

Other projects Denisha’s involved with at the Red Cross are Veterans Affairs Volunteer Services, Military Entrance Processing Station, casework, Holiday Cards for Heroes (one of her favorites), Military Kids Serve Too (a ceremony unique to Nashville in which military children are recognized and praised for dealing with the inevitable stresses and strains of military families,)  and the annual Veterans Day Parade. She’s also involved in various aspects of training, and is responsible for five leads under her who work with the various projects.

Her advice to anyone who wants to be a Red Cross volunteer: Be flexible, and find things to do, even if not much is going on at the moment. And find something that speaks to your heart and have fun with it.

Denisha has been an energetic, dedicated volunteer with the Nashville Chapter since 2005, and we’re proud to feature her in our Volunteer Spotlight!

By Marvin Koch, Red Cross volunteer