Clarksville, TN – The American Red Cross Tennessee River Chapter recently recognized its exceptional volunteers who continue to work tirelessly to help people in need.
“We are even more aware of the great dedication of our volunteers, whose support makes a dramatic difference for our neighbors in need,” Pamela Holz, local chapter executive director said.
In the Tennessee region, more than 2,000 people volunteer with the Red Cross by responding to home fires and other disasters, supporting blood collections, providing emergency assistance to military families, and much more. These individuals are among the more than 300,000 volunteers nationwide who comprise more than 90% of the national Red Cross workforce.
This year’s award winners are:
Michelle Balsley, of White Bluff, received the Excellence in Disaster Services Award to recognize her performance as a Community Volunteer Leader. During the Middle Tennessee Floods, she worked to find a headquarters and a warehouse space for the Disaster Relief team within 24 hours of the flooding. Michelle tirelessly volunteered her time to help in the response, connecting the Red Cross team with community resources, donations, and insight. Additionally, she went out of her way to organize an appreciation lunch for responders. Despite her full-time job, she is always only a phone call away and ready to collaborate with her extensive community connections.
Jan Thompson, of Clarksville, received the Excellence in Operations Award to recognize her continuous efforts toward the Red Cross mission. Jan’s “attention to detail” skills benefit Red Cross as a gift processing volunteer. Regionally, Jan assisted Operations and the greater efforts of the Sound the Alarm campaign by processing the required Homes Made Safer data. Jan assisted with the analysis of Element reports, Volunteer Connection reports, and the Safety Dashboard roster. Although her time and service may be spent in a “behind the scenes” role, Jan is a Red Cross star. Her gifts of time and talent make a legitimate impact on Tennessee Region readiness.
Joey Monroe, of Dover, received the Excellence in Disaster Services Award to recognize his integral leadership role within the chapter. He is a proactive, flexible, and selfless servant to the client. He has worked hard to learn the DA manager role and during the Quad-State Tornadoes, supported a team in conducting almost 1200 surveys over the course of the operation. He leads his team with compassion and patience. He is open to any questions and treats all challenges for himself and others as an opportunity to learn. He provides guidance and direction while encouraging teamwork and cooperation.
If you are interested in becoming an American Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up online.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission.
For more information, please visit redcross.org/Tennessee or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCrossTN.
