Carbon County Volunteers Honored
for Their Service
News Release: April 23, 2004
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing
(610) 865-4400, ext. 262
Today (4/23), the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley honored its more than 100 volunteers in Carbon County at an appreciation reception at Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital Conference Center in Lehighton.
“You are generously giving of your time and of yourselves to serve the Red Cross and to improve the circumstance of others. And for that, we thank you,” John Hughes, executive director, told the group of 70 principally blood services volunteers at the reception. “Last year, 1,219 units of lifesaving blood were donated through the Red Cross in the Carbon County area. In a year peppered with emergency blood shortages, Red Cross was there setting up blood drives to meet our community’s blood supply.”
Also addressing the group were Joseph Stockunas, chairman of the board; Deb Evans, board member and chairwoman of the volunteer advisory committee; and Carl Kist, Carbon County branch manager for the Red Cross.
Six volunteers received service anniversary pins in recognition of their five to15 years of service. Celebrating five-year service anniversaries are: Elaine Gilham and Violet Hunsicker of Lehighton; Connie Herman of Jim Thorpe; and Harriet Von York of Walnutport; 10 years, Kathleen Ruch of Lehighton; and 15 years, Mary Meier of Lehighton.
In addition, Lois Stevens of Jim Thorpe received the Extraordinary Volunteer Award for her work at the Carbon County blood drives, labeling and assembling the bags used in the donation process. Stevens has been volunteering for two years.
“Lois eagerly volunteers for blood drives all over the county,” Kist said about Stevens. “She comes out in any kind of weather with a great attitude and a smile on her face. Lois is such a valuable asset to the Red Cross.”
Red Cross presented a plaque to the hospital and Sodexho, the food and facilities management services company for the hospital, for their generosity in hosting the event.
For more information about Red Cross volunteer opportunities, call the Red Cross at (610) 377-2100.
The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents in Lehigh, Northampton and Carbon counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training and emergency relief services to more than 20,000 Greater Lehigh Valley residents. For more information about the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley or volunteer opportunities, call (610) 865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.
