Branch Office Opens in Lehighton; Chapter Name Changed to Reflect Expanded Service to Carbon County
News Release: November 13, 2001
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
The American Red Cross announced the opening of a new branch office at 129 N. First Street in Lehighton today (11/13) and named Carl Kist, former emergency services specialist at the Lehigh Valley Chapter in Bethlehem, as its branch manager.
The Lehigh Valley Chapter has been providing core Red Cross services in the Carbon County area since July 2001 when the Carbon County Chapter was dissolved.
"We are happy to be here and delighted to have Carbon County as part of the new Lehigh Valley Chapter structure," John Hughes, executive director, said at a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new office this afternoon. "Our goal is to make the process as seamless as possible while, at the same time, providing a wider range of Red Cross programs and services to the residents of Carbon County. And, we look forward to continuing the outstanding blood services program in this region."
Effective immediately, the Lehigh Valley Chapter will change its name to the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley to reflect its service area expansion in Carbon County.
The service area includes all of Carbon County minus the areas of Banks Township, Lausanne Township, Packer Township, Beaver Meadows Borough and Weatherly Borough, which are part of the area served by the Hazleton Chapter of the Red Cross.
With the annexation, the Red Cross will now provide emergency relief services and health and safety programs and services to more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. The chapter will continue to provide blood services which was a function of the former Carbon County Chapter.
Other Red Cross representatives and dignitaries speaking at the ribbon cutting were Lehighton Mayor Wilbur Bauchspies; Richard Perrotti, chairman of the board for the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley; Carl Merluzzi, former Carbon County Red Cross board member; and Kist.
In addition, the Lehighton Area Education Association presented a $1,000 check to Red Cross for the disaster relief fund. The donation represented contributions from Lehighton area teachers and the eighth-grade student council at Lehighton Middle School. Kreg Henritzy, student council member, and Ronald Rabenold and Bruce Koch of the association presented the check.
Kist will be responsible for the day-to-day operations of the Carbon County office. His duties will include establishing effective working relationships with the community; recruiting and retaining volunteers to assist in the delivery of programs and services, including blood drives in the community; and assuring the delivery of programs and services in the community.
"I look forward to meeting folks in Carbon County and letting everyone know about the many Red Cross programs and services available to them," Kist said. "My door is open, so to speak. I encourage anyone to stop by and learn more about the Red Cross."
Kist began his career with Red Cross in Nov. 1999 as an information specialist in Lehigh Valley Red Cross Valley Wide Help, the information and referral service arm of the local Red Cross. He was promoted to emergency services specialist in March 2000 and was responsible for handling casework related to armed forces emergency services, international services and local disaster services.
The Laurys Station resident holds a bachelor's degree in university studies with a concentration in sociology and psychology from the University of New Mexico in Albuquerque. Prior to joining Red Cross, he was a mental health worker for Northwestern Human Services in Allentown.
Kist will report to Stephen Vetrano, senior director, programs and general services, at the main Red Cross office in Bethlehem.
The branch office hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. The phone number is (610) 377-2100. The main office is located at 2200 Avenue A, Bethlehem, PA 18017; (610) 865-4400.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 15,500 Lehigh Valley residents.
