Volunteer Spotlight: Lenora McMeekin

By Kayla Beamon, Red Cross volunteer

Duty Officer Lenora McMeekin brings plenty of experience and care and compassion to the Red Cross mission of being present when the community needs it the most. As a Disaster Action Team Coordinator for the Mid-West Tennessee and Tennessee River Chapters, she has been with the Red Cross since August 2017 and volunteers three weeks each month.  

She has supported the Red Cross in providing an immediate response to community disasters like the Tennessee River flood in Parsons, tornado disasters in Kenton and Darden, and even an ice storm that gripped Dresden.  

When asked how volunteering for the Red Cross makes her feel she says, “I love what I do for the American Red Cross and cannot imagine working for or being a part of any other organization. It fills my life with meaning and purpose. I have sat with people who have lost everything due to fires and storms and listened to their stories and heartache. I have said many times that I have two ears to listen, two shoulders to cry on and two arms to give hugs.”  

She gives amazing credit to the other volunteers she works with in the chapters, “I wouldn’t be able to do any of this without the assistance of a great team and my service dog partner.”  

If you would like to become a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up.

Volunteer Finds Her Calling Helping Those in Need in Memphis

By Briana Phillips, American Red Cross volunteer

The Mid-South Chapter of the American Red Cross highlights Vanessa Mejia, a Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer who serves in Memphis, Tennessee.  

When she moved to Tennessee in 2017, she was looking for ways to get involved in her community. She chose the DAT position because it allowed flexibility with her work schedule and has continued with the department since then. She has even managed to take on multiple roles and responsibilities as a duty officer and supervisor for the team.  

During her time volunteering, Meija has helped those affected by the destruction of tornadoes, floods, and house fires in her region. Working to dispatch volunteers to sites and assist people at the scene of the disaster has been rewarding for her. Typically, she is called out to help with house fires, the most common disaster the Red Cross volunteers respond to.  

“The main job of the Disaster Action Team is to help with the immediate needs of people affected by the disaster,” she explained. “It’s all about getting people back on their feet as quickly as possible.”  

Assistance can vary depending on the situation, but the Red Cross aids with getting people situated with temporary housing, food, and medical necessities following a disaster. However, the most important service the Red Cross provides is emotional support in the face of crisis.  

“Some people are overwhelmed by the loss they just went through, so it’s important that we are there to help them through a tough situation,” Meija said. “You have to be strong for our clients, but the people we help are very appreciative of the support we provide.”  

While she enjoys the current team she volunteers with, she hopes that more volunteers can join the ranks soon, as there is always a need for volunteers with the Red Cross.  

“Some of us must travel a long distance to reach disaster sites,” she added, “However, if we had more volunteers in separate locations, then that would ensure that the Red Cross could handle responding more effectively and quickly.”  

Meija will continue volunteering as long as she can, but she would love to see more people who are willing to help in a crisis join the American Red Cross. “It’s not easy, but it’s rewarding work,” she said. “I wasn’t sure if I would enjoy the role, but I actually am really glad to be a part of the Red Cross.”  

If you are interested in volunteering with the Disaster Action Team or to volunteer with other lines of service, visit the Red Cross website at RedCross.org/Volunteer for more information. 

Mitchell Named Executive Director for American Red Cross Heart of Tennessee Chapter

MURFREESBORO, Tenn., May 10, 2022 - The Tennessee Region of the American Red Cross is pleased to announce that John Mitchell has been named the Executive Director with the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross in Murfreesboro. The Heart of Tennessee Chapter serves Bedford, Cannon, Coffee, DeKalb, Franklin, Lincoln, Marshall, Moore, Rutherford and Warren counties in Tennessee.  

Mitchell previously served the American Red Cross from 2012 to 2015 as the Executive Director for the chapter office in Franklin. More recently, he served as the Director of Development for The Salvation Army in Murfreesboro.  

“We are very pleased to welcome John back to the American Red Cross leadership and know he has a very strong desire to serve the community,” said Joel Sullivan, Regional Executive Director for the American Red Cross of Tennessee. “His experience with development will be a great asset in this position. I am positive that John will bring great energy to the chapter and we look forward to his success.”  

Prior to coming to the Red Cross, John also worked at Middle Tennessee State University Jones College of Business as Development Director and for the Boy Scouts of America as a District Executive. He has his Bachelor of Science, Business Administration and Physical Education from the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg, Kentucky.   

“I have all the confidence in John’s seasoned leadership to work as a champion for the Red Cross as well as the people he will serve in those 10 counties,” Sullivan said.  

Longtime Red Cross Volunteer Remembers Volunteering with her Husband

Betty and Olen's service pins and newspaper clippings from The Daily Herald, provided by Betty Bailey

By Briana Phillips, American Red Cross volunteer

When Betty Bailey began volunteering with the Red Cross, she thought it would be a great way to keep up her certification as a swim instructor. Little did she know that her stint of volunteering would turn into 15 years of swim teaching alongside her husband, Olen. 

In 1985, the couple had just moved to Columbia, Tennessee. They were both active in other community efforts, but Betty encouraged Olen to volunteer with her at the Red Cross. “We did everything together,” Betty remembered. “If I was interested in being a part of something, Olen would say to me, ‘I may as well do it with you.’ We liked to support each other's interests in that way.” 

The couple soon started teaching beginner and advanced lessons to children and didn’t look back. They began to feel like teaching swimming to young children was an important initiative in their community.  

“We hated seeing news of another local kid that drowned in the lake because they couldn’t swim,” Betty said. “No one should be at risk of drowning. It’s a death that is absolutely avoidable.”   

Betty and Olen taught a generation of kids for 15 years and received Red Cross service pins to honor their efforts. They would have continued volunteering but needed to step away from the job due to health reasons.  

Since Olen’s recent passing at 102, Betty has appreciated their time at the Red Cross even more. “It was so fun to do it together,” she said. “I honestly think we got more out of it than the kids did!” 

As Betty reminisced on their time with the Red Cross, she wanted to encourage others to follow her and Olen’s legacy. “If you can, get up and do something that you love for someone else. In my experience, I found out that the volunteers themselves get more benefits from the volunteering than the recipients.” 

If you’re interested in a volunteer position, please visit the Red Cross website at RedCross.org/Volunteer. 

Red Cross to install 480 free smoke alarms in the Tennessee Region as part of national Sound the Alarm effort

 

Volunteers needed to help install life-saving smoke alarms

 

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 4, 2022 — On May 7 and May 14, volunteers and members of the American Red Cross Tennessee Region and volunteers will join together to install more than 480 free smoke alarms for local families vulnerable to home fires during a Sound the Alarm event in Tennessee. This effort is part of a national Red Cross Sound the Alarm initiative to install 50,000 free smoke alarms in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country in May.

 

WHAT:           

Sound the Alarm events in nine cities to install FREE smoke alarms to make homes safer. Volunteers will be trained at local events and will then help with smoke alarm installations at area homes where teams will also discuss home fire safety with families.

 

WHERE:        

Hernando, MS – May 7

McMinnville, TN – May 7

Knoxville, TN – May 7

Nashville, TN – May 7

Lexington, TN – May 14

Covington, TN – May 14

Clarksville, TN – May 14

Chattanooga, TN – May 14

Morristown, TN – May 14

 

WHEN:           

May 7 and May 14

(Start times vary based on location, please refer to SoundtheAlarm.org/Tennessee for more information.)

 

Partners we would like to thank include: William Adams, John Walker, Pilot Flying J Travel Centers, The Memorial Foundation, Inc., Reynolds Family Foundation, State Farm, George R Johnson Family Foundation, Lynn and Rick Scarola, United Way of Greater Nashville, United Way of the Mid-South, United Way of East, Tennessee Highlands, United Way of West Tennessee, United Way of Greater Kingsport, and United Way of Hamblen County.

 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

 

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Volunteers needed: Help install free smoke alarms as part of national Red Cross Sound the Alarm effort

NASHVILLE, Tenn., May 4, 2022 — Volunteers are needed to help install free smoke alarms for local families in Nashville, where Red Cross local volunteers have responded to 205 home fires since July 2021. Home fires are the number one disaster the American Red Cross responds to daily.

The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross is leading the Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation and home fire safety event on May 7, as part of a national Red Cross initiative in May to install 50,000 free smoke alarms with partners in more than 50 at-risk communities across the country.

 

“Sound the Alarm is such a great way for citizens to truly make a difference in their communities by directly helping local families,” said Joel Sullivan, Nashville Area Chapter executive director. “This one-day event can help save lives of your neighbors by simply installing free smoke alarms, which has shown to cut the risk of dying in a home fire in half.” In 2022, there have been 30 home fire fatalities in Tennessee according to the U.S. Fire Administration.

 

People can register now at SoundTheAlarm.org to install free smoke alarms and share fire safety information with residents during a local Sound the Alarm event in Nashville, May 7 from 11:45 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.. No prior experience is needed. Training will be provided at Plaza Mariachi at 3955 Nolensville Pike in Nashville before volunteer teams, with members of the Red Cross Disaster Action Team and volunteers and partners visit area homes with both appointments for installations, as well as canvasing for installs.

 

Because of generous donations, all services are free and available for people in need. Can’t join the event? Help by donating to the Red Cross at SoundTheAlarm.org to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires — which account for most of the U.S. disasters that the Red Cross responds to every eight minutes.

 

IF YOU NEED A SMOKE ALARM Residents in Nashville Area Chapter area who need assistance can visit RedCross.org/Tennessee to schedule an appointment for a free smoke alarm installation during this Red Cross Sound the Alarm event. During the home visits, Red Cross volunteers will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

 

MORE THAN 1,200 LIVES SAVED AND COUNTING This Sound the Alarm event is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save 30 lives in Tennessee since launching in October 2014. As part of the campaign in Nashville Area Chapter, the Red Cross and local partners since 2015 have installed 7,943 free smoke alarms and made 3,034 households safer.