American Red Cross volunteers & donors honored in "Sweet Celebration"

Last Thursday, the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids chapter held an ice cream social to celebrate the contributions of its most active volunteers and blood donors. The “Sweet Celebration," attended by board members, volunteers, donors and staff, highlighted the generous service of blood donors and volunteers in the Grand Rapids community. The event’s program emphasized the fact that the generosity of volunteers and donors is what allows the organization to carry out its humanitarian work on both national and hyperlocal levels.

Local volunteership is what allows Red Cross chapters to carry out health and safety programs and services, and volunteers are critical to chapters’ ability to respond to disasters such as fires, floods and tornadoes. In addition to providing standard Red Cross disaster response services; preparedness, health and safety programs; services to the Armed Forces; international and blood services, ARC’s local Greater Grand Rapids chapter also provides transportation services to those in need. Many of the local chapter’s transportation clients rely on volunteers to take them to and from lifesaving medical appointments, such as kidney dialysis.

In an average month, Red Cross volunteers commit over 20,000 hours to the American Red Cross West Michigan region. Many of the volunteers attending last week’s celebration regularly commit 10 or more hours each week to their local chapter, with some contributing 30 hours per week or more. Volunteers who reached significant milestones, such as 5, 10 or 35 years of service with the American Red Cross, received special service pins. One notable recipient included the Greater Grand Rapids Chapter’s new CEO, Sam Tidwell, who received a pin for 35 years of service with American Red Cross. 

The Disaster Services, Blood Services and Transportation Services departments each honored the service of their volunteers, including special awards for volunteers with outstanding commitment. Blood donors who donated five or more times over the past year received a certificate, along with a pack of Lifesavers, for their “life saving” gift of blood. One notable award went to the Spanish-speaking volunteer who has manned the local chapter’s Spanish phone line 24/7 for the past four years in a row.

The local chapter’s Transportation Services Department volunteers received special recognition for their tireless volunteership in spite of this winter’s exceptionally trying conditions. Red Cross representatives were proud to acknowledge the local chapter’s transportation volunteers never canceled a pickup due to weather conditions once; the only time the department canceled their client appointments was when doctors offices closed due to the cold.

The celebration program, which doubled as an annual chapter meeting, played a “Fund the Mission” video, which was also displayed at this past year’s annual Hometown Heroes event. Also a part of the program was video “Not All Heroes Wear Capes”, which showed the real impact volunteers and blood donors have had in their local West Michigan community.

Learn more about the American Red Cross of Greater Grand Rapids and its local impact by following on the blog.