etón blog

This Thanksgiving, it’s more than just pumpkin pie and your mom’s mashed potatoes. It’s the perfect time to give thanks for the family, friends, and everyone around us who has had an impact on our lives.

We wanted to make a special post dedicated to all of the American Red Cross employees and volunteers. When a disaster or emergency strikes, they are usually the first on the scene to assist families in need.

Whether the Red Cross has made an impact in your life now, there will probably come a time where you will need them to help during an emergency. We are grateful for all their hard work and dedication throughout the years.

I went on our Twitter and Facebook accounts to ask any fellow volunteers or employees who would be interested in doing an interview for our blog. I came across Ann Lurkens, a 12 year volunteer with the Red Cross, who took time out of her schedule to conduct this interview and we thank her.

Ann is a 46 year old stay-at-home mom who lives in North Carolina, after many years in Atlanta. Check out her story below discussing 12 years of service with the Red Cross:

Ann Lukens
American Red Cross volunteer (12 years of service)

1.) How did you get started volunteering with the American Red Cross?
I started volunteering with the American Red Cross as a First Aid and CPR instructor, because my rescue squad needed an instructor for new volunteers. I found that I really enjoyed teaching CPR for the public too. After several years, I had graduated from college and felt I was too busy to volunteer anymore.

On September 11, 2001, I found myself watching the 9-11 attacks on television and knew I had to do something. I went to a blood drive and spent the day helping.

The head nurse mentioned that our area really needed disaster volunteers. The next day, I put in an application to be a disaster volunteer. I have been a Disaster Action Team member ever since. Locally, we respond to home fires, storm damage, evacuations, and other emergencies in which people lose their homes. I have been a DAT member ever since, both in Atlanta and in North Carolina.

2.) What disasters/emergencies have you helped with in your 12 years of experience?
I have worked Hurricanes Isabel, Bonnie, Charley, Earl, Frances, Gaston, Ivan, Jeanne, Karl, Cindy, Dennis, Katrina, Rita, and Wilma. Also, the Vine City floods in Atlanta, the Atlantic Station fire (200+ apartments and 29 cars burned), a small plane crash, several large forest fires in North Carolina, and two large scale chemical evacuations.

3.) What is the number one reason why you have volunteered all of these years?
The reason I keep going is the reaction of the families I help. Most of them have no family to help, no insurance to pay for temporary lodging, have lost their money, credit cards and even car keys. Sometimes the people are in their underwear or pajamas, and bare feet. They have no idea what they are going to do, and the looks on their faces when the Red Cross arrives is hard to describe. To those families, you are a blessing, a hero, a lifeline. That’s what keeps you going.

4.) What advice would you give someone who is interested in volunteering for the Red Cross?
For anyone thinking of volunteering for the Red Cross, I would say call your local chapter and talk to volunteer services. There are so many areas in need of volunteers: Blood drives, disaster, health and safety instructors, office help. You will find that there are many services handled by the American Red Cross that you didn’t even know they provided, and there is a place for almost everyone.

5.) Is there one story that sticks out in your mind during your 12 years of volunteering?
My most memorable Red Cross experience is not a huge hurricane response or evacuation. It is Christmas 2008. On Christmas eve, a family with three children under 5 lost their home in a fire. As I helped them complete paperwork to get their client assistance mastercard, my cellphone rang continuously.

Families of our local firefighters gathered clothing, toys, food, baby goods, and one even brought a small Christmas tree, completely decorated. The children woke in the morning to a Christmas tree, with wrapped gifts, treats, food and stockings. Later Christmas Eve night, another family with two teenagers lost their home, and this wonderful community response happened again.

Christmas afternoon, a third fire and a third community outpouring. I had to go to the chapter and get more cards and supplies. My husband and I had Christmas dinner at Waffle House-open 365, including holidays! It was certainly not our typical Christmas, but in so many ways it was a wonderful and meaningful holiday.

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Thank you Ann and all of the Red Cross volunteers and employees who take time out of their lives to help ours. We would also like to say thanks to all of the police, fire, nurses and EMS crews out there everyday.

A BIG thank you from all of us at Etón!

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