Red Cross SVP Koby Langley Visits New Jersey

Koby Langley, Senior Vice President, Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) and International Services with the American Red Cross, spent two days in New Jersey visiting with regional leadership, volunteers, and donors. Koby is also serving as Interim Division Vice President for the Northeast Division and on one of those days, joined the regional leadership team, Board members and SAF volunteers for Operation Turkey at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst (JB MDL).

Koby joined New Jersey Red Cross Regional CEO Rosie Taravella and SAF Regional Manager Nicole Runyon for a visit with Col Anthony L. Smith, 87th Air Base Wing and JB MDL Commander. Koby then helped with distribution of frozen turkeys and Thanksgiving dinner fixings to military members on the base during Operation Turkey, an initiative by members of all three NJ Chapter Boards to help make sure military members and their families have what they need to enjoy a Thanksgiving meal.

While on the Joint Base, leadership was treated to a tour of the Flight Line at McGuire Air Force Base, which included a look inside the massive belly of a C17 aircraft. Quite impressive!

Also impressive was a stop by Sean’s Room. This new service is modeled off Sean’s House, a program based out of Newark, Delaware. Sean’s Room provides a safe peer-to-peer environment for JB MDL personnel to receive mental health support and confidentiality in accordance with the law. The Red Cross is supplying Sean’s Room with refreshments and are happy to support this service however possible.

Koby and Rosie were able to sit down in Princeton with donors like United Moms to learn about their work and why they’re passionate about helping others in need. United Moms are longtime supporters of the American Red Cross and have donated to help those affected by large disasters, including the earthquake in Turkiye and the Southern Tornadoes and Storms in the U.S. Koby presented Ms. Cheng of United Moms with a certificate of appreciation for her continued support.

Key volunteers were invited to meet with Koby to discuss their activity in the region. Koby recognized Frank Ott, Butch and Linda Brees and Adrian Huns for the years of work they’ve done in their respective chapters with the Board of Directors, Service to the Armed Forces and International Services, as well as appreciated for sharing their vast expertise with regional leadership.

Thank you, Koby for your inspirational visit with our volunteers and employees, your muscle helping distribute frozen turkeys, and for the time you took to listen. We appreciate you!