Barbara Flanigan

Kretche, Flanigan enjoy helping out
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One Red Cross volunteer from the Green Bay who aided those affected by the hurricanes is 52-year-old Barbara Flanigan.Flanigan, who worked for years as a nurse, recently returned after spending two weeks in Brewton, Ala., helping residents recover from Hurricane Ivan.She and other volunteers visited residents' homes to assess their needs.

"There was no electricity, which meant phone communication was limited at best," she said.
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When Flanigan caught up to the man and asked him what he needed, he told her his wife was on life support.

"He said, 'I lost my house, everything.' He cried on my shoulder for 15 minutes.I had a very wet shoulder.But I know he didn't feel alone."

Flanigan, who has been a Red Cross volunteer for 2½ years, also teaches health and safety courses for the Lakeland Chapter.She has responded to a number of disasters, including the Oct. 11, 2002, pileup that killed 10 people and injured 37 on Interstate 43 near the Sheboygan-Ozaukee county line.While volunteering sometimes keeps her away from her family, she savors the personal satisfaction she receives from helping others.

"I don't think I realized what volunteering meant until I started working with the Red Cross," Flanigan said.