Their dedication to the American Red Cross and the community has spanned three generations, three decades and thousands of miles across the city of Milwaukee – to grandmother Hester Borokowski, daughter Barbara Hensley and granddaughter Nancy Hensley, volunteering is as important as family.

It is fitting then, that family ties brought this dedicated trio to Red Cross. Hester’s sister Alice was a volunteer in the School Health program and recruited her to help with clerical work. Already a volunteer at Children’s Hospital and the VA Medical Center, Hester jumped at the opportunity and started volunteering in every Red Cross service area---even when she could no longer drive.

“Mom instilled in us the thought that volunteering was expected,” Barbara says.

It was not unusual for Hester to schedule holiday dinners so she could be at the VA Medical Center to feed a patient, Charlie, his dinner. She made sure that she was at his side for dinner every day.

“He was a part of our family,” Nancy remembers. “Grandma took him to church, fought to make sure he was included in an outing to Holy Hill, talked to him and read books to him and his roommate every day.”

She also recruited her family to help, including her disabled husband and her young granddaughter. No excuses.

“If you can help somebody, you should,” says Hester.

“Grandma had me volunteering at the Red Cross even before I really could,” Nancy says. “I was ten when she first started taking me along.”

Together, Hester and Nancy packed friendship boxes that were sent to kids affected by disasters overseas. Hester also recruited her granddaughter, daughter and husband to help distribute water at local festivals and the Circus Parade. She also inspired Nancy to become a Supervisor on the Red Cross First Aid Service Team (FAST), and Nancy and Barbara started responding to disasters as part of the chapter’s Disaster Action Team. Today, they both volunteer at the front desk of the Milwaukee office, continuing the dedication to the Red Cross that their family matriarch started 30 years ago.

“She has always said ‘the more you do, the better you are,’” Nancy says.

The American Red Cross in Southeastern Wisconsin relies on donations of time and money so they can provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies in Dodge, Kenosha, Milwaukee, Ozaukee, Racine, Walworth and Waukesha counties. To donate your time, please visit our Volunteer page. Financial donations can be made online through our secure contribution site.You can also support the Red Cross online by becoming a fan on our facebook page and following us on Twitter.