News Release: April 25, 2002
Contact: Janice Osborne, Manager-Media & Community Affairs
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
They leave their families in the middle of the night to help another family in the Lehigh Valley find a place to sleep. Others show up on a regular schedule to teach strangers how to save a life. Many provide assistance during blood drives or answer the phone when people call for help. Through it all, none receives a dime in compensation.
Who are they? American Red Cross volunteers.
"Red Cross volunteers right here in the greater Lehigh Valley devoted 14,500 hours of service to our community last year," said Bob Duld, director of Volunteer Services for the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley. "The Red Cross is fortunate to have such an outstanding group of volunteers who serve this community. Many hold full-time jobs. Some are retirees or students. Yet every one of them finds the time to help a child, adult or family in some
shape or form through Red Cross programs and services. We are grateful for their unwavering support and are pleased to recognize their efforts during National Volunteer Week."
The local Red Cross will pay tribute to its more than 450 volunteers in two separate volunteer recognition events. The staff at Carrabba's Italian Grill in Allentown hosted the first event on Thursday, April 25, from noon to 2:30 p.m. for Red Cross volunteers in Lehigh and Northampton counties. This is the third year that Carrabba's volunteered its time to host the complimentary lunch.
"The Carrabba family of restaurants nationwide has a deep respect for the American Red Cross," said John Ross, proprietor of the restaurant. "It's our pleasure to recognize the dedication of the Red Cross volunteers. And, I'm proud of our chefs and wait staff who have volunteered their time to prepare and serve lunch. It's a wonderful tribute."
About 100 volunteers attended the April 25 luncheon.
A similar recognition event will be held on May 8 at Gnaden Heutten Hospital in Lehighton for Red Cross volunteers in Carbon County.
Volunteers receiving special recognition included:
Service Anniversary Awards:
5 years:
Barbara Bigelow
Joseph Casciotti
Joseph Demjanick
Mike Dowd
Mike Lee
Shirley Leith
Chuck Mattera
Rosemary McDonald
Amy Smith
Jeff Trexler
Dave Vaillette
10 years:
Jim Bedick
Maxine Ebeling
Jeffrey Kindler
Joe Klo
Maynard Leith
Charles Marsteller
Eric Minford
Brian Patterson
John Weaver
15 years:
Dot Rodgers
Richard Rodgers
Jacob Schock
20 years:
Susan Danish
30 years:
Ben Boylston
Steve Curto
35 years:
Ferne Rodale Kushner
Presentation of Nursing Pins:
Michon Louise Borbe
Regina Winsko-Barron
Patricia H. Daugherty
Trisha Henry
Debra Lilly
Marie Pelonero
Janice Elaine Rabenold
Extraordinary Volunteer Award:
Ben Boylston
Oscar Favela
Bob Gedney
Ferne Rodale Kushner
George Roskilly
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 15,700 Lehigh Valley residents.
For more information, visit www.redcrosslv.org or call (610) 865-4400.
