Carbon County Volunteers Honored for Service, Commitment to the Community
News Release: May 3, 2006
Contact: Janice Osborne, director-Communications and Marketing; (610) 865-4400, ext. 262

Today (5/3), the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley honored its more than 60 active volunteers in Carbon County at a luncheon held at the Lehighton Borough Annex. Addressing the group were: Carl Kist, branch manager; John Hughes, executive director; Bob McGovern, chairman of the board; and Bob Duld, director of volunteer and community services.

“Thanks to you, the Red Cross is here providing blood, lifesaving health and safety classes and disaster assistance to our neighbors,” Carl Kist, branch manager of the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross, told volunteers. “We’ve worked hard to get to where we are today, and I know we will continue to do so. Carbon County deserves it.”

Four residents and two schools were singled out for special recognition. John and Bertha Meckes of Jim Thorpe were honored for their collective 45 years of volunteer service in helping with Red Cross blood drives. “Bertha starts her work before the blood drive begins and is usually the last one to leave,” Kist said. “She ensures that refreshments are prepared and served. John is often behind the scenes making sure the facility is properly set up. Until recently, he transported blood from the drive location to the blood center in Wilkes-Barre.”

Wayne Malisko of Weatherly was recognized for his volunteer service during this country’s catastrophic 2005 hurricane season. Malisko, who joined the Red Cross last fall, traveled to Florida to assist with recovery efforts following Hurricane Wilma in November. He served as a client caseworker, working long days assisting those directly affected by the hurricane. “The people you touched through your volunteer efforts will no doubt remember forever the help and hope you gave them,” Kist told Malisko as he presented to him a certificate for extraordinary volunteer service.

Ray Heiser, of Jim Thorpe, was presented a 25-year service anniversary pin. Heiser teaches Red Cross CPR, first aid and AED (automated external defibrillation). “I enjoy teaching these classes. It’s so very important,” Heiser said.

Heiser knows firsthand the importance of learning the lifesaving skills of CPR and first aid. In the early 1980s, Heiser used CPR to save his son, Ryan, who was just four years old when he lost consciousness at a local grocery store. “For a moment, I thought I would panic,” recalls Heiser. “It’s always worse when it’s your own family member. But I picked Ryan up, put him on the checkout conveyer and started CPR. It was scary. Fortunately, I was able to revive Ryan and he was taken to the hospital.”

Years later, Heiser would use his first aid skills and training to contain extensive bleeding while he was at home following tonsil surgery. He credits his training for keeping a level head and taking proper action until medical help arrived.

The Concern Treatment Unit for Boys in Lehighton and the Carbon Career & Technical Institute were lauded for their assistance with local blood drives. “The staff and students at Concern arrive early at blood collection sites to unload equipment and supplies to ensure that we’re ready to start as scheduled,” Kist said. “The young men who help us do so in a professional manner and with a caring attitude.”

Last fall, 10 students from the Carbon Career & Technical Institute received blood collection training from the Red Cross and assisted at a bloodmobile at their school. “These future nurses worked with the utmost professionalism,” Kist told the audience. “The success of the school’s blood drives is due to their compassion and dedication.”

The Honorable Keith R. McCall sponsored a citation on behalf of the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to pay tribute to the Carbon County volunteers. In part, the citation credits Carbon Red Cross volunteers who “work tirelessly to care for those in need and to serve a cause greater.”

Lunch was provided by Dr. Suzanne M. Garszczynski, vice president of professional services at Palmerton Hospital, and Red Cross board member; Blue Mountain Health System and its board of directors; and Sodexho. Lehighton Middle School saxophone students Rebecca Hoffner, Donald Smith, Sarah Nanovic and Katie Sabol, under the direction of music teacher Beth Perkins, provided musical entertainment.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities at the Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross, call Bob Duld at (610) 865-4400, ext. 229, or visit www.redcrosslv.org.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 660,000 residents of Carbon, Lehigh and Northampton counties. Last year the Red Cross provided health and safety education training; Lifeline, a personal response service for seniors; and emergency relief 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.