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Red Cross Campaign Seeks Younger Tampa Volunteers

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By BILL RATLIFF

News Channel 8

Published: August 14, 2008

TAMPA - The Tampa Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross has more than 2,000 volunteers it can call on in times of disaster. But it faces a challenge: 60 percent of those volunteers are retirees, joining at an older age.

So the local chapter, joining others nationwide, decided to aggressively enlist the help of younger people who might be able to put in more years with the organization. It created Empowered, a group of young professionals in their 20s and 30s.

Formed early this year, Empowered has 240 members and is reaching out to more.

One member, now the chairwoman, is Joana Urie, a 29-year-old marketing executive who said she joined because she wanted to get back to volunteering.

"I had done so my whole life, then starting a career, you sort of get side swiped and you don't want to over commit yourself," Urie said.

Once she started volunteering, she realized she did have the extra time.

Monica Ruggley, who started volunteering at age 27, is a staff member. Ruggley joined in 2004 right before Hurricane Charley struck Florida's southwest coast and is a disaster specialist for the Tampa Bay chapter.

Her duties include sending volunteers wherever they are needed. Matching the right person to the right job is a challenge, but it has its rewards.

"When a volunteer comes back to me and says that was an incredible experience and they feel privileged to be out there helping people — that's when I know I did my job well."

For those who feel they might not have the time to volunteer, chapter officials say just 20 hours a year is a help.

To learn more, contact the News Channel 8 phone bank from 5 to 7 p.m. today. Call 1-800-528-0808 or go online to www.redcrosstbc.org.

Bill Ratliff can be reached at (813) 225-2717 or BRatliff@WFLA.com.

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