Lunch Huge Success
The Heart of Tennessee (HOT) Chapter of the American Red Cross raised over $117-thousand with its Inaugural Heroes Luncheon on Wednesday (2/6/2013) at Murfreesboro's DoubleTree by Hilton.
Chapter Chairperson Lisa Trail said . . .
She stressed that not only will the funds enable the local Red Cross to help victims in crisis, but it will also make for a community that's better equipped to handle emergencies.
In 2012, the Heart of Tennessee chapter trained 4,700 persons in lifesaving skills.
In addition, lives were saved when 3,100 individuals donated blood or platelets at the Murfreesboro office.
The local Red Cross chapter is certainly not the new kid on the block. In fact, the Murfreesboro chapter was formed December 12, 1917, and its charter was signed by President Woodrow Wilson.
Bob Mifflin "Hero of the Year"
Board Member and Past Chairman Bill Shacklett presented the 2013 Red Cross Hero of the Year Award to Bob Mifflin. The longtime executive director of the Christy-Houston Foundation and retired financial leader, shared memories of how there are "so many heroes in this community."
Mifflin's emotion filled talk confirmed how very special the people really are who make-up this area.
Mifflin then challenged the public to become a hero to someone who needs a strong role model by becoming active in organizations like the Red Cross.
Board Chair Trail announced that the local chapter has 278 registered volunteers, made 105 emergency responses in 2012, and helped 322 individuals and 109 families.
In addition, 18 local volunteers were deployed to Tropical Storm Debbie, West Virginia storms and heat wave, Hurricane Isaac, and Superstorm Sandy.
She also noted that 500 service members and their families took advantage of the local Red Cross services, and 126 emergency messages were sent to military with ties to the Heart of Tennessee. Trail noted that 329 requests for services to members of the Armed Forces were handled.
Volunteers
The mission of the Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
A Coffee County husband and wife team, Jan and Drex Freeman, told what the Red Cross has meant to them. Heartwarming stories of not only helping local families who are victims of storms, floods and fires, but of their experiences in helping victims of Super Storm Sandy, the hurricane that devastated the northeast last October.
Jan talked about how volunteering with the Red Cross is so very rewarding. She noted, "You know for certain that you are helping someone in need."
She also described how it takes you out of your comfort zone. The Freeman's live in nearby Beechgrove, where the population is about 200, and they drive a small Prius. Jan told the story of landing in White Plains, New York, being given the keys to a giant Red Cross military-type SUV along with a map and directions on how to travel into the world's fourth largest city in afternoon drive-time.
The Freeman's story was so filled with adventure, that some were inspired to ask more information on the training that is required to be a part of Red Cross Disaster Action Teams (DAT).
George Plaster Was The Dessert
Like the perfect dessert for a gourmet meal, afternoon sports talk radio host George Plaster, pulled everything together while donation envelopes were being passed around the tables. While leaving to do his afternoon radio broadcast on WGNS and other Tennessee affiliates, Plaster commented . . .
Chairperson Trail noted, "This will not only help us to serve victims of fires, floods and other disasters, but it will enable the local Red Cross to save lives with classes in CPR, swimming, baby sitting and the many other programs offered by the organization.
Again, over $117-thousand was raised by the Heart of Tennessee Chapter of the American Red Cross to help fund their service to disaster victims in this area.
The Murfreesboro Red Cross office is located at 501 Memorial Boulevard, and their phone number is 615-893-4272. The local web address is www.redcross.org/tn/murfreesboro.
