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Youth Volunteer to Seasoned Professional: Debbie Yee’s Red Cross Journey

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By Anika Kurkut, Red Cross Communications Team Intern

Photo courtesy of Debbie Yee

Debbie Yee, a dedicated Red Crosser for 23 years, turned her passion for helping others into a fulfilling career as a Senior Disaster Program Manager where she leads disaster response efforts for the Northern California Coastal Region.

Debbie first started volunteering with the Red Cross in the summer before she began eighth grade, as a requirement for volunteer service. Little did she know, this initial step would lead to a lifelong career dedicated to helping others. Her early days as a Red Cross volunteer in the Bay Area were marked by her involvement at the Leadership Development Camp (LDC), where she was able to find inspiration among fellow passionate youth volunteers. Debbie recalls, “I was organizing events at school, helping with blood drives, and fundraising.”

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A Volunteer Committed to Helping Others

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Photo courtesy of Barbara Atlas
American Red Cross

Barbara Atlas is an example of volunteerism. She has been committed to the Red Cross mission since she started as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) member with the National Capital and Greater Chesapeake Region in Washington DC. “For 4 of the 37 years we lived four miles from the White House, I enjoyed responding to fires and other local disasters as a DAT team member,” she said.

After they retired, Barbara and her husband moved to Oakland in 2019. She knew she wanted to continue supporting the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross. One of the many ways she jumped back into volunteering locally was by becoming a blood delivery driver for the Bay Area Chapter Blood Services team. “I get a lot of pleasure from driving a Red Cross van to transport blood, both the pickup of new blood from donor centers and delivering blood as needed to local hospitals. I know that donated blood is saving lives. It is also gratifying to train new drivers for transporting blood and thrilling to see my former trainees on the job. But most important is getting to know the generous people who work in Blood Services helped me learn how,” she said.

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A Childhood Dream Achieved: Ola’s Journey with Restoring Family Links 

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American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces volunteer and Army spouse Sara Andrews, assists an Afghan guest at the Fort Bliss Doña Ana Range Complex in Chaparral, New Mexico. Photo by Scott Dalton/American Red Cross

In a world where armed conflicts often divide families and disasters can tear loved ones apart, Ola Alani stands as a beacon of hope. As a Restoring Family Links (RFL) volunteer with the Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region, Ola’s story is one of resilience, determination, and the pursuit of a childhood dream. 

Born and raised in Iraq, Ola grew up against the tumultuous backdrop of war and conflict. The Red Cross, with its reputation for compassion and assistance, had always held a special place in her heart as she had seen the emblem in action many times growing up. She had a lifelong desire to play a part in the organization. When she moved to the United States and graduated from U.C. Berkeley in 2015, her dream was finally realized when she embarked on her Red Cross journey as a volunteer. “Getting to volunteer with an organization I had highly regarded was a childhood dream come true for me!” shared Ola.  

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The lifesaving power of blood donations

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 Sarah with her son right after his surgery, which included the blood transfusions.
Photo courtesy of Sarah Montoya

For many, the prospect of donating blood comes with certain apprehensions. Most Americans who are eligible and healthy enough to donate blood choose not to do so. But Sarah Montoya from San Francisco makes a point of going out of her way to donate whenever she’s able, as she knows firsthand the lifesaving power a single blood donation contains.

Five years ago, Sarah discovered that her 10-month-old son had a Wilms tumor growing on his kidney. He was one of the 43 children who, on average, are diagnosed with cancer in America every single day.

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“I am putting good vibes out into the world.” 

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by: Alex Keilty 

Photo courtesy of Mary Dorst

If you can donate it, Mary Dorst has probably given it. Hair? Check! Blood? Check! An organ? Check! 

Her latest donation was giving plasma at the Red Cross Blood Donation Center in Oakland, which is something she does about every six weeks. After donating Mary, 59, says, “Physically I feel fine and emotionally I feel good. I know my donation will help anyone with a need in the hospital.”  

 As a little girl in the early 1970’s Mary regularly accompanied her father when he donated blood. “I used to sit next to him while he donated. I especially liked the juice and cookies after,” she remembers.  

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Well-Deserved Recognition After a Year of Good Work: Meet our Volunteer of the Year Award Winners

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The Volunteer of the Year Award honors individuals who best exemplify the humanitarian spirit of volunteerism.

It’s the highest honor a volunteer can achieve within our chapters, meaning that they made significant contributions to the American Red Cross over the last calendar year. These volunteers worked in multiple roles alongside fellow volunteers and staff, providing support to all lines of service. In short, they exemplify the Red Cross mission, and we are proud to share the 2022 award winners.

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