Carbon County Volunteers Applauded
at Recognition Breakfast
News Release: May 3, 2007
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

1955 was the year … President Eisenhower raised the minimum wage from 75 cents to $1 an hour. Elvis Presley made his first TV appearance. Rosa Parks made headlines for refusing to give up her seat on a city bus. Lehighton resident Alma Zern began her volunteer career with the American Red Cross in Carbon County.

Zern, one of 40 Carbon County Red Cross volunteers, was presented a 50-year service pin for her more than five decades of service at a Red Cross recognition breakfast today (5/3) at Lehighton Borough Annex. The breakfast was sponsored by Blue Mountain Health System and its board of directors, Sodexho, and the Lehighton Rotary. Chapter Chairman Bob McGovern and Director of Volunteer and Community Services Bob Duld addressed the group.

“We are so grateful for every one of our volunteers,” Duld said to the group. “Greater Lehigh Valley Red Cross volunteers devoted more than 16,000 hours to our community last year. Without them, this chapter would literally not be able to function.

“Thanks to you – our valued volunteers – the Red Cross is here providing blood, lifesaving health and safety classes and disaster assistance to our neighbors,” Duld added.

At the event, 30 volunteers were recognized for service ranging from 10 years to 50 years.

Zern began her Red Cross career at the former Carbon County Red Cross as a coordinator of blood services in Lehighton. In this position, she recruits the Red Cross volunteers needed to conduct six blood drives a year in Lehighton. Through her efforts, it is estimated that more than 2,052 gallons of blood were donated to area hospitals to help save lives.

In 2003, Zern received the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership, the highest award the American Red Cross bestows on volunteers.

Her volunteer work extends beyond Red Cross and into other areas of the community including Bethany Evangelical Congregational Church, where she has taught Sunday school for pre-school-age children for more than 50 years.

Karen Reichard of the Lehighton Mayor’s Office read a letter of appreciation addressed to Zern for her Red Cross and community volunteer efforts. In addition, Zern was presented with a letter from Kathryn A. Forbes, national chair of volunteers for the American Red Cross in Washington, D.C.

Lehighton Middle School students – Laura Cressley, Chey Davis, Rebekah Fritz, Rebecca Hoffner, Cierra House and Sarah Nanovic – 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 23,000 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.