Letter from East Tennessee Executive Director, Sharon Hudson - February 2019

Every day we rely on the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors to fulfill our mission. We recently received a mint condition donation of a Canteen Lady uniform and cap from the 1950s.

The American Red Cross Canteen has been providing service to the Armed Forces since its founding in 1917. The warm and friendly atmosphere of the canteen provisioned by the dedicated volunteer Canteen Ladies who staffed the facility, made it a home-away- from-home for the service men and women who frequented the commissary. The Canteen Ladies gave support and comfort to members of the armed forces and their families.

In December 2018, the daughter of a former Canteen Lady, Ms. Karen S. Johnson, donated the uniform and cap, including name tag and badges, worn by her mother Mrs. Evelyn “Sunny” Shaffer who served at the canteen in Scarsdale, NY from 1955-1959, to the East Tennessee chapter of the Red Cross in Knoxville, Tennessee.  In addition to helping active members of the armed forces at the canteen, Mrs. Shaffer also worked with retired service men and women, as well as actively recruited new volunteers for the Red Cross. We celebrate Mrs. Shaffer’s dedication and volunteer spirit.

Mrs. Shaffer’s uniform is currently on display at the Knoxville office along with two other uniforms that have been acquired from other volunteers. The staff of the East Tennessee chapter would like to thank Ms. Johnson for this very personal donation.