Billy Jennings is the new Director of the Fentress County Red Cross.
Jennings said he has worked with the Red Cross in Fentress County since the early 1980s. Jennings said he was involved with contacting people in the military about major life events while they were deployed. Jennings said he also has experience working with Red Cross blood drives and shelters.
“A few years ago, we had an ice storm here in Fentress County, and it was seven days we had the shelters open here,” Jennings said. “And we housed people in those shelters, probably 100 people, something like that at that time.”
Jennings will take the place of former Fentress County Red Cross President Charlie Whitehead. Jennings said he hopes to continue aiding military families, assisting with disaster shelter and relief, and running blood drives. Jennings said he’s been involved in Red Cross blood drives for the last ten years.
“American Red Cross Blood drives are every 56 days in Fentress Counry, or six times a year,” Jennings said. “We do somewhere around 70 pints of blood each time that they come from Nashville to do that.”
Jennings said the Red Cross helps with fire assistance too, offering monetary services or a temporary place to stay. Jennings said he thinks the role of the Red Cross is serving those in need.
“I feel like that’s what God put us here for, is to help each other, and that’s my goal in life,” Jennings said.
Jennings said his new job as director will be very similar to his previous role with the Red Cross.
