Uncovering local talent and leadership is all too often seen as a seemingly simple task for an experienced Red Cross representative. For the Red Cross, these special volunteers just don’t come along everyday. In fact, all Red Cross volunteers are special. They give effortlessly of their time, energy, knowledge and yes, sometimes even their money. Somewhere among the best people in town, one will always find Red Cross volunteers.
These people go about the mission of the Red Cross quietly and could even be your next door neighbor. This year the American Red Cross is extremely pleased to announce one such person, Effingham County’s 2008-09 chairman, Lainie Jenkins.
“I have been a fan of the American Red Cross for years, and wanted to embrace this opportunity to lend my efforts to this wonderful organization,” she said. “I personally saw firsthand a sampling of the amazing work done by Red Cross volunteers during last year's tornadoes in Effingham County and wanted to contribute in any way I could. I’m finding out even more about the group as I endeavor to help educate and to increase the awareness of Red Cross right here in our county.”
Jenkins, a native of Illinois and one of seven children, lived in Savannah from 1977-1980 before moving to Florida, then to Valdosta and has made her home in Guyton since 2000.
Her professional career has been a great training ground for the endeavor she is undertaking as the local Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund Chair. She has over 10 years experience with large corporations such as Pizza Hut, La Petite Academy and United Cerebral Palsy. She also spent 11 years of recruiting professionals primarily in the IT, health care and insurance fields and an eight-year stint as a mortgage loan officer. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in English degree from the College of St. Francis in Illinois and having taken graduate courses in public health administration makes her a more perfect match for the type work the Red Cross does.
Jenkins is involved in the Effingham Women in Business, and she organized the first county wide women's event in Effingham featuring a theatre production group from Tampa. Jenkins is past president of Effingham Sunrise Rotary Club and is currently a member of Rotary Club of Effingham where she serves as co-chair of the public relations and social committees. She is an Area Agency on Aging ambassador and is also an ambassador of the Effingham Chamber of Commerce.
She is a Women’s Retreat Leader and has recently launched her own business, Events and Retreats for Women. Its Web site is www.retreatsforwomen.us.
Jenkins and her husband Archie are members of Guyton Christian (Disciples of Christ) Church.
A variety of fundraisers will be announced soon. To lend your support, share your ideas or volunteer to help, email Jenkins at ljenkins1330@yahoo.com or call her at 663-0131.
