New Red Cross Director Focuses On Education
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
After 35 years in the telecommunication business - 25 years of that with Sprint - Larry Peppel, 59, decided he wanted to do something different.
He wanted to give back to the community.
In mid-March, he was hired as the new executive director of the Kosciusko County chapter of the American Red Cross.
He came to Indiana at the end of 1996 to serve in customer relations for Sprint for the southwest Ohio and Indiana area. He's lived in Warsaw since. At the end of 2001, he retired from the business.
"I came to a point in my life where I decided to do something different," he said Thursday.
Always having enjoyed helping people and wanting to work for the community, he decided to go for the Red Cross position when it became available after Becky Notestine left.
Kosciusko's chapter is a small chapter, he said, but it offers many programs. "It's been a good experience so far."
Before taking on the job, he knew a little about the Red Cross. When he lived near Lima, Ohio, he had experience with the Red Cross because he served on the board of directors for the United Way in Ohio. As in Warsaw, the Red Cross in Ohio is a United Way agency.
Having served approximately five years in the military, he also had some experience with the Red Cross through that. Peppel had served as an Air Force pilot from 1966 through 1971.
Asked about his goals for his new job, Peppel said, "Right now, I'm trying to educate myself on the strategies and things we need to begin to do to enhance our strategies."
The real mission of the Red Cross, he said, is to prepare people and the community to be ready to handle disasters. "Disaster preparedness is one of our primary purposes," he said.
As part of the disaster response the Red Cross is known for, Peppel said, part of their mission to provide food and shelter for people when a disaster occurs until they can get back on their feet.
"We certainly have a lot of work to do in that area," he said, but the Kosciusko County chapter also has many positives going for it.
When the tornado touched down in the county last October, the Red Cross was there to provide shelter and help as needed. When the ice storms hit earlier this year, the Red Cross was there, he said. And when Warsaw Plating Co. burned and the fire department thought the neighborhood might have to be evacuated, the Red Cross set up a shelter, just in case.
The Red Cross also works with the military. One service they offer is helping civilians get in touch with family members in the military in the event of an emergency and vice versa.
A third program supported by the Red Cross is their blood drive. While the Northeast Regional Blood Center, Fort Wayne, does the actual blood collection, the local Red Cross assists with food, records processing and signups.
"Our citizens are very faithful to that," Peppel said.
Health and safety education is another focus of the Red Cross. They offer CPR classes, disease transmission prevention courses, babysitter training, lifeguard training and other similar courses.
"We do a lot of training. We charge a modest fee for the training and supplies," but it's all part of the Red Cross's efforts in helping the community, he said.
On June 19-22, at Grace College in Winona Lake, the Red Cross is planning a disaster institute to train volunteers throughout Indiana for disaster response. Peppel said he encourages all volunteers to attend and take advantage of the training, which has a modest cost.
American Red Cross is funded by the United Way. "Each of those programs is funded in part by United Way. We're very pleased by that," said Peppel. Nearly all the money donated in Kosciusko County to the local chapter stays in the county.
Peppel was born in Columbiana, Ohio. He and his wife, Marsha, are the parents of four children. Their first child died at birth and the remaining three sons live in Ohio.
If anyone has any questions about the local Red Cross Chapter, Peppel said they should feel free to call 267-5244. The chapter is always looking for volunteers. [[In-content Ad]]
After 35 years in the telecommunication business - 25 years of that with Sprint - Larry Peppel, 59, decided he wanted to do something different.
He wanted to give back to the community.
In mid-March, he was hired as the new executive director of the Kosciusko County chapter of the American Red Cross.
He came to Indiana at the end of 1996 to serve in customer relations for Sprint for the southwest Ohio and Indiana area. He's lived in Warsaw since. At the end of 2001, he retired from the business.
"I came to a point in my life where I decided to do something different," he said Thursday.
Always having enjoyed helping people and wanting to work for the community, he decided to go for the Red Cross position when it became available after Becky Notestine left.
Kosciusko's chapter is a small chapter, he said, but it offers many programs. "It's been a good experience so far."
Before taking on the job, he knew a little about the Red Cross. When he lived near Lima, Ohio, he had experience with the Red Cross because he served on the board of directors for the United Way in Ohio. As in Warsaw, the Red Cross in Ohio is a United Way agency.
Having served approximately five years in the military, he also had some experience with the Red Cross through that. Peppel had served as an Air Force pilot from 1966 through 1971.
Asked about his goals for his new job, Peppel said, "Right now, I'm trying to educate myself on the strategies and things we need to begin to do to enhance our strategies."
The real mission of the Red Cross, he said, is to prepare people and the community to be ready to handle disasters. "Disaster preparedness is one of our primary purposes," he said.
As part of the disaster response the Red Cross is known for, Peppel said, part of their mission to provide food and shelter for people when a disaster occurs until they can get back on their feet.
"We certainly have a lot of work to do in that area," he said, but the Kosciusko County chapter also has many positives going for it.
When the tornado touched down in the county last October, the Red Cross was there to provide shelter and help as needed. When the ice storms hit earlier this year, the Red Cross was there, he said. And when Warsaw Plating Co. burned and the fire department thought the neighborhood might have to be evacuated, the Red Cross set up a shelter, just in case.
The Red Cross also works with the military. One service they offer is helping civilians get in touch with family members in the military in the event of an emergency and vice versa.
A third program supported by the Red Cross is their blood drive. While the Northeast Regional Blood Center, Fort Wayne, does the actual blood collection, the local Red Cross assists with food, records processing and signups.
"Our citizens are very faithful to that," Peppel said.
Health and safety education is another focus of the Red Cross. They offer CPR classes, disease transmission prevention courses, babysitter training, lifeguard training and other similar courses.
"We do a lot of training. We charge a modest fee for the training and supplies," but it's all part of the Red Cross's efforts in helping the community, he said.
On June 19-22, at Grace College in Winona Lake, the Red Cross is planning a disaster institute to train volunteers throughout Indiana for disaster response. Peppel said he encourages all volunteers to attend and take advantage of the training, which has a modest cost.
American Red Cross is funded by the United Way. "Each of those programs is funded in part by United Way. We're very pleased by that," said Peppel. Nearly all the money donated in Kosciusko County to the local chapter stays in the county.
Peppel was born in Columbiana, Ohio. He and his wife, Marsha, are the parents of four children. Their first child died at birth and the remaining three sons live in Ohio.
If anyone has any questions about the local Red Cross Chapter, Peppel said they should feel free to call 267-5244. The chapter is always looking for volunteers. [[In-content Ad]]