The Impact of Volunteering

This summer we said, ‘See you soon!’ to one of our very own – Nina Musgrove. When Nina took a gap year to work and apply to medical school, she found her calling with the Red Cross through the AmeriCorps Program.

“I was facing the final year before dedicating my life to medical school and I was committed to finding work that made an impact. So, I started with AmeriCorps, and when my term came to an end, transitioning to the Red Cross was the natural thing to do, and what a wonderful whirlwind it has been,” shared Nina.

Through the Disaster Action Team, and in a very short time, Nina taught over 1,844 people through the Youth Preparedness and Community Preparedness Education Program, responded to 66 fires, assisted hundreds of families with recovery, supported Multi-Agency Resource Centers, installed smoke alarms through the Sound the Alarm campaign and helped staff multiple shelters. And it all started with the desire to make an impact.

“Every single experience at the Red Cross has not only impacted my leadership skills but greatly prepared me for my future as an emergency physician. My goal is to help people during the worst time of their lives just like the Red Cross does in times of disaster or home fires. Leaving is bittersweet, but my experience—it’s unlike anything I’ve ever imagined and it’s my wish that others would consider a life-changing time with the Red Cross. I wanted to make an impact, but the impact the Red Cross has had on me has been powerful. I’ve grown in so many ways.”

Most of the 60,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are local disasters like home fires. Trained Disaster Action Team Red Crossers like Nina are ready to respond to these emergencies, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From offering a shoulder to cry on, to meeting immediate needs for shelter or supplies, to connecting people with long-term recovery services, our volunteers ensure that families are not alone during one of the toughest times of their lives.

Volunteer with us to answer the call when your neighbors need help. RedCross.org/Volunteer

Written by Illinois Communications Manager Connie Esparza

Service and Scholarships

“It’s a good way to let your school connect with your community, letting people come in and see what your school’s all about. Also, it teaches students how to reach out and be active in their community and give back; these are things everyone should know how to do, and it helps you know how to do that.”
-Lainey Campbell

The American Red Cross High School Scholarship Program gives high school students the opportunity to help others, while helping the students as they move on to higher education. The scholarship program is available for high schools that host at least one Red Cross blood drive during the year.

For 17 years, Marty Green has helped successfully run this program at East Peoria High School. The school coordinates five blood drives every year, primarily thanks to the efforts of the students who are involved in the program.

“My role is purely supplemental. If they need something, I get it for them, but other than that, it’s completely driven by students,” says Green. “They come to me, I don’t go to them.”

The larger number of units of blood a school collects, the larger the amount of scholarships are awarded to participating students.

Lainey Campbell played an integral role in the East Peoria High School program the past few years, and received a scholarship for her efforts after graduating earlier this year. She is now using that scholarship to help pay for college.

“It’s very helpful, because college is expensive, so it’s very nice,” she says.

Perhaps more than the financial benefit, Campbell says the life skills she learned while coordinating blood drives and interacting with the community were very helpful for her. She encourages other high school students to get involved at their schools.

“For people who want to work on community service but also want help with funding for college, it’s a great program for that and it really rewards you – it rewards you for doing something outside your comfort zone. A lot of schools like to push leadership, teaching students to give back to their community. If you’re looking for that, it’s a great way to do it.”
-Lainey Campbell

Green, who is retiring after this year, recalls how Campbell and other students have answered the call to take charge of this program during his time being involved with it.

“Each year, a different student steps up to be the leader. They’ll come to me and say, ‘Mr. Green, I’d really like to run this,'” he says. “At the beginning, it was some work to get things going – now, it runs itself. I am fully confident that when I leave, it’s going to keep the momentum.”

Campbell echoes those sentiments, saying other students helped her, even while she was leading the program. She received support from previous student leaders, her fellow school band members and her friends along the way. She says, “I had a lot of support from my friends. I would send them the (blood drive) flyer and ask if they would post it on their Snapchat story or Instagram, and they did.”

Campbell also recalls the positive interaction with Red Cross staff, the day of the first blood drive she hosted. In addition, seeing so many people come in to give blood that day left a lasting effect on her.

“Everyone from the Red Cross I worked with that day was wonderful, they were all so nice and they explained it all to me,” she says. “It was my first experience seeing a community come together for a good deed, giving back to the community.”

By participating in the American Red Cross High School Scholarship Program, your high school can help build a stronger community. Click here to learn more, and to find out how your school can get involved!

Written by Illinois Region Communications Manager Brian Williamsen