Red Cross Youth Volunteers Honor
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
News Release: January 21, 2008
Contact: Janice Osborne, Director-Communications and Marketing; American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley (610) 865-4400, ext. 262; pager (610) 508-4378

While many high school students took the holiday as an opportunity to sleep in, some area students chose to observe Martin Luther King Jr. Day by giving back to the community. Nine Red Cross youth volunteers spent the day teaching 14 preschoolers about the life and work of Dr. King at Bethlehem’s Day Care in the Park.

Preschoolers were read a short story about Dr. King and then colored a picture they could take home.

“I feel it’s important for kids to learn about Martin Luther King Jr. when they are this young,” said Ashley Gimbel, 16, of Northwestern High School. “This is our biggest youth project this time of year.”

When asked about the activity, three-year-old Joshua Farrell excitedly announced, “I learned about King!”

Volunteers also helped youngsters create Valentine’s Day cards that will be delivered to a local senior facility early next month.

“The kids get really excited when we have visitors come into the classroom,” said Linda Glennon, pre-K teacher at Day Care in the Park. “They really learn a lot and love interacting with the volunteers.”

“This is the fifth year that our youth have visited the day care for Martin Luther King Jr. Day,” said Robin Trexler, volunteer and youth services specialist for the Red Cross. “For many students, it’s a day off. But for our youth volunteers, it’s a time to give back to the community in honor of Dr. King.”

About 200 area students are Red Cross volunteers.

“Our youth volunteers are busy throughout the year visiting senior facilities, serving in soup kitchens, working with elementary school children and raising money for Red Cross. Many of our youth belong to Red Cross Clubs at either Parkland, Emmaus or Allentown Central Catholic high schools,” said Trexler. “But you don’t have to be a member of a club to be a youth volunteer. We have students from just about every high school in the greater Lehigh Valley.”

Red Cross youth volunteers participating in today’s event were: Kyle Pasko, Jennifer Lee, Eric Stephen, Nicole Delhagen and Lindsey Edelman of Emmaus High School; Christina Muthard of Parkland High School; Megan Muthard of Orefield Middle School; and Laurie Gimbel and Ashley Gimbel of Northwestern High School.

To get involved with Red Cross youth services or for more information, please contact the American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley at 610-865-4400 or visit www.redcrosslv.org.

The American Red Cross of the Greater Lehigh Valley serves more than 680,000 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.