THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, May 11, 1995 TAG: 9505090079
SECTION: NORFOLK COMPASS PAGE: 03 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY VICKI LEWIS, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 71 lines
EVERY TIME SOMEONE is motivated to give blood after seeing a poster or reading a pamphlet put out by the American Red Cross, Delores Robbs is just a little more proud of her work.
Robbs, who will mark 26 years with the Red Cross on May 19, is manager of the Red Cross print shop in the department of communications and community relations, located at the Red Cross' Tidewater Center and Headquarters of the Mid-Atlantic Region on Brambleton Avenue.
As the shop manager and its only employee, Robbs is responsible for the reams of material printed by the Red Cross for the entire Mid-Atlantic Region each year.
``If they don't have posters or fliers, they can't get blood,'' she said, ``And we need blood.''
For all her hard work and dedication to her job, Robbs recently received the American Red Cross' Second Level Tiffany Award in ceremonies held at the Mid-Atlantic Region's headquarters. She was one of only 38 Red Cross employees around the country to receive the national award.
In December, she received the First Level Tiffany Award for excellence in support service. She was nominated for the award by a fellow employee, Mary Dean.
In her job, Robbs does everything from taking orders and burning plates to operating the two offset presses and packing boxes.
She prints posters, fliers, inserts, letterhead, forms - everything that the Red Cross needs to get the word out. In fact, her shop prints up 98 percent of the needs of the Mid-Atlantic Region.
``Only about 2 percent is sent out,'' she said.
Mahla Swinford, director of communications and community relations, said she estimates that Robbs makes from 2.5 to 3 million impressions a year.
Robbs said her shop keeps busy with orders year round, and keeps her busy every day. In spite of all her responsibilities, she said she enjoys working alone.
``I'm real fast with my hands,'' she said. ``I don't have to say to someone, `Will you do this?' I can just go ahead and get it done myself.''
When Robbs first came to the Red Cross more than a quarter of a century ago, she said she was the first black employee in the front office. These were the days before computer technology had taken over offices, but she was right there when it did.
``I operated the first computer they had,'' she said.
In addition to working as a clerk typist, she also served as a relief operator on the switchboard, and spent many hours helping out in the donor room.
``I would make egg salad sandwiches to give to the blood donors,'' she said.
While she was a typist, she said she gained some experience working on the printing equipment and was hired to manage the print shop 16 years ago.
Robbs, who was born and raised in Norfolk, has raised three sons while working for the Red Cross. ``I feel like I've been here all of my life,'' she said, without regret.
``I'm proud of the Red Cross and the work they do,'' she said. ``That's why I've stayed so long.'' MEMO: If you know someone whom you feel is deserving of a Thumbs Up! feature,
call Vicki Lewis at 446-2286.
ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by BILL TIERNAN
Delores Robbs is manager of the Red Cross print shop in the
department of communications and community relations on Brambleton
Avenue.
by CNB