Be A Hero

Dr. Joanne McKell and nurse Anita White of the Cleveland VA Medical Center discuss the adjustments that were necessary due to the challenges of treating their patients during the COVID -19 pandemic. And Kristin Warzochka of the Greater Cleveland Foodbank talks about the challenges and adjustments her organization had to make to keep feeding families.

Interviews with three of the winners of the 2021 Northeast Ohio Hero awards are featured on this episode. Jackie Otte is a long-time Red Cross disaster mental health volunteer, and talks about how she and her team of licensed professionals - all volunteers - have helped people cope during the COVID era. And Allen Morinec and Michael Kuznik describe the way they roused a neighboring family from their home after spotting flames and smoke.

Two Red Cross blood drive partners - the Cuyahoga County Public Library System and Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse were honored with 2021 Hero Awards for continuing to host blood drives throughout the pandemic. And Brandon Chrostowski of Edwins Leadership and Restaurant Institute is the non-profit partners featured on this episode. He helps teach formerly incarcerated men and women the restaurant business and life skills.

The host of the virtual 2021 Northeast Ohio Hero Awards, veteran journalist Leon Bibb, divulges his Red Cross story, which begins at the beginning of his life. The Army veteran also talks about the day he interviewed President Obama, and how race relations have changed since his father served in a segregated Army.

George Sortino has recovered from a severe case of COVID-19, and he credits a transfusion of convalescent plasma for pulling him through. Debbi Grinstein recovered from a mild case, and donated her plasma to help others. George and Debbi tell their stories here.

On October 24, 2020, Gail Renfro heard a smoke alarm sound in her bedroom - a smoke alarm installed by the Red Cross four years earlier. Her home was destroyed that day, and the smoke alarm is being credited with saving her life. In this episode, Gail is reunited with the Red Cross personnel who installed the alarm.

5 Red Cross volunteers who physically deployed to help victims of large-scale disasters in 2020 talk about their experiences. Mahogany Coward, Jani Memorich, Callene Derrick, Monica Bunner and Debby Levison tell us where they went, what they did to help people, and what they did to stay safe in the era of COVID-19.

Jessica Tischler, Regional Service to the Armed Forces Program Director, explains the vital services provided by the American Red Cross to members of the military, veterans and their families. And Jessica Franco, SAF volunteer, explains her role and her reason for volunteering to help the armed forces through the Red Cross.

Kim Kroh, executive director of the American Red Cross of Heartland, Stark and Muskingum Lakes is joined by disaster program manager Tim Reichel and volunteers Tom Johnson, Dan Best and Brook Harless, who tells a compelling story about the reason she became a Red Cross volunteer.

Todd James, the executive director of the American Red Cross of North Central Ohio, is joined by volunteer Steve Mahler and disaster program managers Adam Warnament and Lora Taylor to highlight the service area that includes Erie, Hancock, Huron, Lorain, Putnam, Seneca, and Wyandot Counties in Ohio.