St. Louis, Friday, March 14, 2008 – The American Red Cross St. Charles County Service Center honored its volunteers and community partners on Friday during a Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon at the Stegton Regency Conference and Banquet Center in St. Charles, MO. During the event, the Red Cross highlighted community outreach made possible by outstanding community support. In 2007, the St. Charles County Service Center touched the community in the following ways:

• 27,093 school-age children were reached with preparedness curriculum through Community Disaster Education presentations.
• 5,808 school-age children learned important skills during Health and Safety presentations.
• 894 local residents were trained in lifesaving First Aid and CPR.
• 626 blood drives were staffed by local volunteers.
• 131 people from 42 families received emergency food, clothing, shelter, and long-term recovery referrals following local disasters.

The Blood Services Award is presented to a volunteer who exemplifies a commitment to strengthen or improve our local blood supply through their dedicated efforts.

• Ava Griffith (St. Peters, MO) – Ava has volunteered at the permanent blood donor facility in St. Charles and at mobile drives throughout the county since she became a Red Cross volunteer in 1991. Ava also coordinates blood drives at her church each year.
• Evelyn McClellan (St. Charles, MO) – Evelyn has volunteered for the past 32 years at the permanent blood donor facility in St. Charles, and has helped with numerous blood drives. Evelyn’s dedication at this facility ensures the Red Cross is able to continually staff the Blood Center with caring individuals. Evelyn has volunteered for the Red Cross since January, 1976.

The Community Cares Award is presented to an individual, group, or organization that has improved Health and Safety and Community Disaster Education practices.

• St. Charles County Citizen Corps Council (SC-5) – The St. Charles County Citizens Corps Council (SC-5), which is a coalition of all St. Charles County Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) and other affiliates, has partnered with the Red Cross to increase programs and services in the county. Together, the Citizen Corps Council and the Red Cross are growing the number of trained volunteers to help in shelters during disasters, educate the St. Charles community in Disaster and Emergency Preparedness, and ensure effective services throughout the community daily and during times of crisis. 

• Jean Smyth (St. Peters, MO) – Since Jean began volunteering in 2005, she has reached nearly 8,000 school-age children through Community Disaster Education presentations.  Jean serves as a Disaster Action Team Leader, Disaster Caseworker, and Volunteer Health and Safety Instructor. Jean also chaired the 2008 St. Charles Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Jean has volunteered for the Red Cross since January, 2005.
• Bill Dennager (Warrenton, MO) – Bill, or as children call him, “Mr. Bill”, has reached over 8,000 school-age children through Community Disaster Education (CDE) presentations since he joined the Red Cross as a volunteer in July, 2005. Bill is also a member of the St. Charles County Disaster Action Teams.

The Disaster Services Award is presented to an outstanding volunteer who has responded to the immediate needs of disaster victims to help them recover as quickly as possible.

• John Rolfes (Winfield, MO) – John is a Disaster Action Team volunteer, working numerous hours responding to disasters during the night. John was also a reliable asset during the 2007 ice storms by helping in the St. Charles County shelter. John began volunteering for the Red Cross in October, 2005.
• John Stamelos (St. Peters, MO) – John volunteered last year as a Disaster Action Team member and an Emergency Services caseworker. John responds to local and national disasters; helping in over 70 national disasters. John has attained the rank of Disaster Assessment Officer. John began volunteering with the Springfield, Missouri Red Cross in July, 1984, and when he moved to St. Charles, he continued his involvement with the St. Charles Service Center.

• Mayors and Administrators of St. Charles County – The Mayors and Administrators of St. Charles County consists of the County Executive, all Mayors and respective City Administrators from municipalities throughout St. Charles County. This group is to be commended for its support of the first ever St. Charles County Community Hero’s Day on April 26, 2008. On this day, citizens will be afforded the opportunity of receiving CPR training at a fraction of the cost, attending Community Disaster Education classes, and participating in a blood drive.

The Health and Safety Award is presented to a volunteer who prepares others to save a life through CPR, First Aid, and AED instruction.

• Dave Mayden (Lake St. Louis, MO) –Dave is a retired Captain from the City of St. Charles Fire Department and his years of experience as an emergency responder have proven to be an asset in the classroom. Dave began teaching CPR and First Aid last year. In addition, Dave serves as a Disaster Action Team Leader, Volunteer Training Coordinator and is a member of the St. Louis Area Chapter Volunteer Committee. Dave has been a Red Cross volunteer since November, 2004.
• Barb Goeckner (St. Charles, MO) – Barb trains students in CPR, First Aid, Babysitting and Pet First Aid courses. Barb also trains members of the St. Louis Area community on how to become Health and Safety Instructors. Barb has volunteered for the Red Cross since January, 1988, and has always been a dependable instructor for the St. Charles County Service Center and the St. Louis Area Chapter.

• Merle Blundon (St. Peters, MO) – Merle volunteers at the Red Cross, helping in the office as an administrative assistant, representing the Red Cross at Health and Safety events, and responding to local disasters. Merle also makes sure St. Charles County shelters are updated and secure in her role as the Volunteer Chair of the Shelter Committee. Sharon has volunteered for the Red Cross since May, 2003.
• Bev Relford (St. Charles, MO) – As the St. Charles Service Center’s most seasoned Disaster Action Team volunteer, Bev has responded to many local disasters since 1993, assisting local families with food, clothing, shelter and referrals. Bev also represents the Red Cross at local Health and Safety fairs and Community Disaster Education booths, assists with office duties, and serves on the St. Louis Area Chapter Volunteer Committee.

 The Humanitarian Service Award is presented to those who respond to emergencies and provides caring assistance and skilled expertise whenever called upon.

• Forrest and Pat Routh (St. Peters, MO) – Forrest and Pat have been volunteering since 2006. Forrest and Pat work together as a team to install Lifeline units throughout St. Charles County and have brought peace of mind to subscribers. Forrest and Pat are also Disaster Action Team Volunteers and recently established the Hospitality Committee to transform a fellow volunteers’ vision into a reality of having a group of volunteers who would call on retired, ill or injured Red Cross volunteers. As part of this committee, Forrest and Pat visit retired and current St. Charles County volunteers at nursing homes, hospitals and their houses to let these volunteers know the Red Cross will always remember those who helped lay the organization’s foundation.

• Lumbia Tolliver (Wentzville, MO) – Lumbia began volunteering with the Red Cross in Oklahoma, bringing years of experience as a Disaster Action Team Member. In March, 2007, Lumbia decided to utilize this experience and joined the St. Charles Service Center Disaster Action Team, helping local families with emergency food, clothing and shelter. Lumbia has also applied his experience and excellent communication skills to a variety of other volunteer opportunities.
• Tehreem Paracha (St. Peters, MO) – Tehreem began volunteering one day a week at the St. Charles County Service Center in March, 2007. Tehreem helps in the day-to-day activities of the Service Center including data entry, answering phones, cleaning, and setting up for Health and Safety courses. She is the youngest office volunteer. She is also a fulltime medical student at St. Louis University, interns at a local hospital, and cares for her family.

The Partners in Caring Award is presented in recognition of extraordinary cooperative working relationships within the community.

• Citi – As, one of the largest employers in St. Charles County, Citi hosts Health and Safety, Disaster Awareness and Volunteer events in which the Red Cross and other community agencies are invited to participate. Citi also hosts blood drives on a regular basis and financially supports the Red Cross through a variety of programs. In 2007, Citi partnered with the American Red Cross to personally thank more than 40,000 local Red Cross financial and blood donors. By opening its call center in O’Fallon, MO on Global Community Day and staffing it with volunteers, Citi enabled the Red Cross to place personal phone calls to local supporters who help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies. 
• Hearts And Roses – For the past six years, Karen and David Kneib, owners of Hearts and Roses Florist, and their staff have been a key supporter of the St. Charles Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon. Hearts and Roses is to be commended for their exceptional service and dedication to the Red Cross volunteers in St. Charles County.

 The Volunteer of the Year Award is presented to the volunteer who has had the most profound impact on the St. Charles County Service Center and local Red Cross programs and services.

• Larry Boyer (O’Fallon, MO) –Larry serves as a Disaster Action Team member and also maintains the response vehicle and managing logistics, including inventory. Larry also serves on the Chapter Shelter Team, assists at the National Warehouse in St. Louis, and fully supports daily operations. Larry became a Red Cross volunteer in December, 2005.
• Lavon Gilliland (St. Peters, MO) – Lavon touches all service areas as a volunteer. Lavon helps with data entry in the Learning Management, Client Assistance, National Sheltering and the Public Awareness Events Systems. Lavon also serves as the St. Charles County Volunteer Coordinator of Special Events, responds to local and national disasters, serves on several committees, and volunteers the St. Louis Area Chapter Headquarters. Lavon joined the Red Cross as a volunteer in November, 2001.

• Bradley Irwin (St. Charles, MO) – Bradley volunteers with his mother, Sandy Irwin, to represent the Red Cross at Health and Safety fairs and Community Disaster Education booths throughout St. Charles County. Bradley and his mother also attend blood drives to help make sure donors are well taken care of. At the St. Louis Area Chapter, Bradley volunteers in the Communications Center and makes roses to raise money for measles vaccinations for children in third world countries. Bradley began volunteering in March, 2007.

• Al Barnett (Florissant, MO) – 10 years
• Julia Punches (Definace, MO) – 10 years
• Dusty Mielke (Warrenton, MO) – 20 years
• Mark Runge (St. Peters, MO) – 20 years
• Miriam Mahan (St. Peters, MO) – 25 years
• Angie Powers (O’Fallon, MO) – 35 years

Volunteer Opportunities
The American Red Cross is led by dedicated volunteers and is supported by outstanding community partners. Locally, thousands of volunteers assist throughout the metropolitan area, and there are many opportunities for individuals to get involved in local Red Cross programs and services. The St. Charles County Service Center is actively seeking volunteers for their Disaster Action Teams, instructors for Health and Safety courses, volunteers for blood drives, and speakers for Community Disaster Education presentations. For more information, please call 636.397.1074, or log on to the St. Louis Area Chapter’s website at www.redcrossstl.org. 

 About the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter:
Founded in 1917, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter celebrates 91 years of dedicated service, providing emergency relief and preparedness training more than 446,600 times each year. The Red Cross is not a government agency and depends on the efforts of thousands of volunteers and donors to provide a wide range of community support services, including disaster relief, first aid and CPR training, water safety, services to military personnel and support for blood services. The Chapter, a United Way agency, provides programs and services to St. Louis City, St. Louis County, St. Charles County and Jefferson County in Missouri, as well as Monroe, St. Clair (including Scott Air Force Base) and part of Madison County in Illinois. All disaster relief services are provided free of charge thanks to the generosity of the American people. To learn more about Red Cross programs, volunteer opportunities, and how you can help, contact the St. Louis Area Chapter at 314.516.2800 or www.redcrossstl.org.

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