Abundant food, a festive game and welcome camaraderie were shared by employees of the American Red Cross, Northeast Ohio Region on Friday, December 18th.

We are spread out all across Northeast Ohio, from Ashtabula to Tuscarawas Counties, so it’s always nice to gather at the same time and in the same place…especially when it’s for pleasure, not business!

The holiday gathering was held at the centrally-located Summit, Portage and Medina Counties chapter in Akron.

We started with a game involving…games.  

The Northeast Ohio staff is spread out not only geographically, but also demographically; we represent a wide age range.  The games you recognize as having played as a child say a lot about when you were born.

Thanks to Mary Williams, Communications Officer extraordinaire for coming up with the ice-breaker.  As you can see in some of the pictures below, it brought us all together.

You can also see the spread of food we enjoyed. It was a team effort, especially on the part of Business Operations Manager Margie Green, who not only made the trip to pick up chicken and pasta, she helped serve it, too!

Photo credit: Jim McIntyre/American Red Cross

Senior Disaster Program Manager Renee Palagyi led the staff in song, and one lucky Red Crosser won 4 tickets to an upcoming Cavaliers game, donated by Shawn Riley, Chairman of the Greater Cleveland Chapter Board of Directors.

Finally, instead of a gift exchange, Red Cross employees donated toys, to be distributed to the children in Northeast Ohio who have recently been affected by disaster.

We hope it helps make their holidays a little brighter.

Donations made to the American Red Cross help families recover from disasters, by providing lodging, food, clothing, and yes…toys, if parents determine that to be an immediate need.  To help these families recover, you can donate here, or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.  You can also text the words “Red Cross” to 90999, to make a $10 donation.

Thank you.  And Happy Holidays, from the staff at the American Red Cross, Northeast Ohio Region!