Story by Bill Fortune and Andrea Carlson
When you have been with the Red Cross for 50 plus years you have seen it all and, in many cases, done it all. That has been the case with Jackie Norris, a volunteer for the Red Cross Mile High Area, in Colorado.
Jackie Norris, (Right) with her mother who was a Donut Dollie during WWII
That is, until Sunday. Then Jackie will do something she has never done in all her 50-plus years with the American Red Cross. On Sunday, Jackie will deploy to provide care and support for the relief efforts for those impacted by Hurricane Michael. This will be her first disaster deployment outside of Colorado. That is unless you count her first “deployment” as a Donut Dollie for the Red Cross serving in Vietnam.
“I am excited to be able to be part of the boots on the ground again,” Jackie said.
Jackie Norris (right) stands with Gino Greco, CEO of the Colorado & Wyoming Red Cross.
Jackie has been an important part of the Red Cross family and recently received the Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for her long and valued service.
Jackie will deploy to the southeast U.S. as a member of the Staff Services Ambassador Program. This is a new program that fits right in with Jackie’s career with the Red Cross. She will work directly with deployed Red Cross disaster responders to ensure that the deployments are successful.
“Red Cross disaster volunteers do such great work. They leave their families and work hard to help others. If I can make their deployment a positive experience that is where I want to be.”
Jackie’s deployment will begin on Sunday, when she heads to Georgia where she will provide support for the volunteers, who are busy helping the people impacted by Hurricane Michael. For Jackie, this opportunity is giving her the chance to try her very trained hands at something brand new.
How can you help? The best way to help the people affected by Hurricane Michael is to donate to Red Cross Disaster Relief at www.redcross.org/donate. You can call 1-800-RedCross to donate or donate $10 by texting the word “michael” to 90999.
Lori, Thank You for sending this to me. My friend Margie Williams left last Friday for ???
She works with the children.
So funny, when you and Jackie were at my house. She said, she hadn’t done disaster relief
in all her years.. She is such an amazing woman.
Love and Prayers, Tanya Smith