Louise Hall has helped a lot of people in her lifetime.

For instance, there's her 11 children and 39 grandchildren, who have been assisted.

Add to that total 65 great-grandchildren and 11 great, great-grandchildren and the number of people Mrs. Hall has helped in life grows substantially.

Now, consider all the people who have donated blood, over the last two decades because of a call or visit from Hall.

How do you measure what this volunteer has done?

The Mower County chapter of the American Red Cross is trying to measure her worth has a volunteer.

The chapter gave Hall its Eileen M. Nierengarten Volunteer Achievement Award Friday.

"She has done so much," said Elaine Hansen, executive director of the chapter. "What she brings to people who work with her can't be expressed in words."

Marietta Hardy was the first recipient of the Nierengarten award two years ago.

Nierengarten was present Friday at the local Red Cross headquarters to present the award. The wife of a retired attorney and long-time district court judge is a role model for all Red Cross volunteers.

"I started volunteering when I was in high school, during World War II, rolling bandages," Nierengarten said.

That was 55 years ago.

Lucy McCarty, eastern district manager for the North Central Region Blood Services of the American Red Cross, said volunteers like Nierengarten and Hall are "priceless."

According to McCarty, the Red Cross is stronger because of the many long-time volunteers the organization calls upon to help provide services to those in need.

McCarthy also presented an award to Hall from the North Central Region Blood Services organization.

Holly Anderson, executive assistant to Kim Stechner, president and CEO of the North Central organization, and Joel Kramer, chapter recruiting manager, congratulated Hall.

Geoff Baker, president of the local chapter's board of directors, also praised Hall's contributions.

A reception in her honor was held after the award presentation. On hand were relatives and friends of the honoree as well as other Red Cross volunteers and officials.

Hall began her volunteer services 22 years ago in Lyle, where she lived. Her husband, Walter, died in 1990.

Both chapter executive director Hansen and the honoree stressed that Friday's ceremonies were not about retirement.

Hall said she will continue to assist the chapter "any way I can."

Lee Bonorden can be contacted at 434-2232 or by e-mail at :mailto:lee.bonorden@austindailyherald.com