In Northern Ohio, we’ve experienced weather-related school closings, road closures and traffic accidents – and it’s not even mid-December!
As winter approaches, the chance of severe weather can compound an already challenging time for blood donors who are busy with holiday preparations and travel plans. Seasonal illnesses can also keep donors from making or keeping an appointment to give.
That’s why the American Red Cross schedules several highly visible blood drives throughout the region during the month of December – to give busy donors a variety of days, times and locations where they can roll up a sleeve and help bring hope and healing to patients in need.
“People with cancer and so many other conditions could not be treated without the blood they need to have every day,” said Dr. Zaher Otrock of Cleveland Clinic. It’s just one of the many quotes I’ve gathered while visiting blood drives and talking to donors over the past 10 years.
“I was in a car crash in 2006 and needed 15 pints of blood. I’m giving back,” said Christopher Haddock.
“This is my way to give of myself to help someone in need.” – Sylvia Stewart-Lumkin
“I love that I get to save lives and find out my blood type.” – first-time donor Meredith Reinhard
“My mom taught me to give back.” - Bridget Miller
“Christ gave His blood for everyone, the least I can do is help a few.” - Gary Pfeiffer
“It doesn’t take a lot of time and it’s really, really, rewarding.” – Mark Fleischer
There’s still time to help save lives this year. During this season of giving, give something that means something and make an appointment to give blood or platelets by using the Blood Donor App, visiting RedCrossBlood.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767.)
OR…
Come to one of the following holiday season blood drives:
17th Annual Holiday Blood Drive – Cuyahoga Falls Tuesday, December 16 from 7 a.m. – 7 p.m. Sheraton Akron/Cuyahoga Falls 1989 Front St. Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio 44221
Annual Holiday Blood Drives – Mahoning Valley Monday, December 22 from 9 a.m.- 4 p.m. Packard Music Hall 1703 Mahoning Ave. Warren, Ohio 44483 Tuesday, December 23 from 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. Stambaugh Auditorium 1000 Fifth Ave. Youngstown, Ohio 44504
Honoring ordinary people who’ve done extraordinary things
The 29th Annual American Red Cross Acts of Courage event was a night to remember. As it does every year, the awards ceremony kicked off with the H. Peter Burg Award recipient. The American Red Cross of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley proudly presents the H. Peter Burg Award each year to one or more individuals who best exemplify leadership in the community, compassion for its people and dedication to the humanitarian mission of the Red Cross.
Kathleen Paydo, Ron Paydo – 2025 H. Peter Burg Award recipient, Rachel Stine – Executive Director of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley
Ron Paydo, market president for The Huntington National Bank in the Akron Canton area, has been named the recipient of the 2025 H. Peter Burg Community Leadership Award. Paydo, who serves on the American Red Cross of Greater Akron and Mahoning Valley board, was selected by a committee of past award winners. Ron is the epitome of what the H. Peter Burg Award represents and is a pillar of his community.
In 2025, the Red Cross is honoring Heroes to Blood – individuals, organizations, or corporations that have gone above and beyond to aid in the collection of our nation’s blood supply. The inaugural recipients of the Heroes to Blood award were:
Ryan Lang, Ruby Dailey, Tara Silva – Greater Akron and Mahoning Valley Board Chair
Ruby Dailey
Ruby’s extensive volunteer work with the American Red Cross has made her a beloved figure in her community. Since retiring, Ruby has donated over seven gallons of blood and actively supports blood drives. Her warm personality and genuine care for others create a welcoming environment for donors. Even well into her 90's, Ruby still contributes, from homemade treats to personalized interactions, and has significantly enhanced the blood donation experience for so many others.
Charla Martin-Bloodsaw – Hero to Blood
Charla Martin-Bloodsaw
Charla is being recognized for her tireless efforts in promoting minority blood donations and sickle cell awareness in Summit County. Through organizing blood drives, educating the community, and participating in sickle cell activities, Charla has made a significant impact. Her dedication to raising awareness and encouraging blood and plasma donations has helped save countless lives and support those affected by sickle cell disease.
The Red Cross values the health and well-being of our blood donors. During the month of March, the Red Cross will expand its health offerings to include A1C screening, a test commonly used to screen for prediabetes and diabetes, for all donors who make a successful blood, platelet or plasma donation. Understanding our own health is the foundation for helping prevent chronic illness and a blood donation can be a part of that journey.
The 2025 Acts of Courage Award recipients include a group of women who saved a runner from an attacker in the park, a military veteran whose quick thinking helped save his neighbor’s life, and a teacher who saved a choking student, TWICE!
Kendra Santiago – Acts of Courage Award recipient
Kendra Santiago
Dominos employee Kendra Santiago was taking an order over the phone when the man she was talking to suddenly went quiet. Kendra decided to deliver the pizza herself so she could check on the customer. When she arrived, she found him having a seizure and not breathing. Kendra called 911 and stayed with the customer and his wife until help arrived.
Samantha Wilson – Acts of Courage Award recipient
Samantha Wilson
While monitoring the cafeteria during lunch at Suffield Elementary School, Samantha Wilson noticed a student choking. She immediately began performing stomach thrusts on the student and finally dislodged the food after several attempts.
Ryan Lang, Daureatha Hython – Acts of Courage Award recipient, Tara Silva
Daureatha Hython
While driving home from work late one night, Daureatha Hython saw a car accident on I-77. She stopped to help and found the driver of the vehicle wedged against the steering wheel with no pulse. Daureatha, and other motorists who had stopped, moved the victim and began CPR. They were able to revive the person before paramedics arrived to transport them to the hospital.
Dave Parsons – Acts of Courage Award recipient, friend Aaron
Dave Parsons
Dave Parsons was helping his friend Aaron clear trees on his property when one of the trees fell on Aaron, trapping him on his tractor. Dave rushed to help and saw Aaron was severely injured and bleeding. Dave used a ratchet strap to create a makeshift tourniquet and applied it to Aaron’s injury. He then called 911 and stayed with Aaron until help arrived.
Donna McFadden, Susan Victor, Laura Rufe – Acts of Courage Awards recipients
Donna McFadden, Laura Rufe, and Susan Victor
While walking together in Cascade Valley Metro Park Donna McFadden, Laura Rufe and Susan Victor witnessed a woman being attacked. They called 911 and then confronted the assailant, hitting him on the head with a rock so the victim could escape. Donna, Laura and Susan stayed with the victim until the authorities arrived and arrested the attacker.
Veronica Graves, Madelyn Stys, Reagan MacTavish – Acts of Courage Award recipients
Reagan MacTavish, Veronica Graves and Madelyn Stys
When a participant in an Aqua Aerobics class at the Wadsworth YMCA suffered a cardiac arrest, lifeguards Reagan MacTavish, Veronica Graves and Madelyn Stys jumped into action. Reagan alerted other staff and began rescue efforts, including CPR. Veronica and Madelyn assisted Reagan also performing CPR and using an AED. The member was transported to the hospital and recovered.
To nominate individuals for heroic Acts of Courage, click here!
When Dr. LaTrice Snodgrass puts her mind to a project, she goes all in.
Recently, she partnered with the American Red Cross and others to stage a blood drive targeted at the Black community, to benefit people living with sickle cell disease (SCD).
Dr. LaTrice Snodgrass and Kim Kroh, executive director of the Heartland, Stark and Muskingam Lakes chapter of the Red Cross
Not only did she spearhead the event, she literally rolled up her sleeve to donate blood – for the first time.
Through this donation, LaTrice learned that her blood is negative for three components, which makes her an ideal SCD donor. Blood transfusions from donors like LaTrice are vital to let SCD patients live comfortable, healthy lives.
LaTrice knows the importance of blood donations from her own racial community. More than 100,000 Americans — mostly African Americans — have sickle cell disease, which causes acute pain and over time damages vital organs. Her sorority, Delta Sigma Theta, put out a national call to boost donations from African Americans. “I told my sisters, we need to do this,” she said.
“I know there is a resistance in the Black community to trusting the medical establishment, but we have to overcome that. Our blood is truly lifesaving.” she said, explaining her decision to give blood for the first time, despite not being enthusiastic about needles.
SCD is an inherited condition that distorts soft, round red blood cells, turning them hard and crescent shaped. As a result, blood can’t flow smoothly to carry oxygen throughout the body, causing fatigue, severe pain, tissue and organ damage and even strokes.
Kim Kroh, executive director of the Heartland, Stark and Muskingam Lakes chapter of the Red Cross, was delighted to support LaTrice’s initiative. The project soon recruited the Strong Family Wellness Weekend, sponsored by Sean and Shaheedrah Strong, as well as the Black Nurses Association, Akron Children’s Hospital and Beacon Charitable Pharmacy, where LaTrice serves as CEO.
The drive at the Canton Civic Center exceeded its collection goal and, importantly, involved a lot of first-time donors.
“When the time comes for me to donate again, I plan to. And I’m going to reach out to my sorority sisters and friends to remind them that they need to donate again too,” she said.
Kim Kroh from the Red Cross, who has been giving blood for years, was on hand to support LaTrice through her first “poke.”
“I have a passion for (the cause of) sickle cell,” Kim said. “I know a teenager with sickle cell. What they go through is just terrible.”
The Red Cross supplies some 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and launched a specific Sickle Cell Initiative three years ago to boost blood collection for this set of recipients.
Although Kim’s blood isn’t uniquely beneficial for SCD patients, it’s also vital: Every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood, to deal with complications of childbirth, treatment for cancer, surgery or emergency room trauma.
To learn more about SCD or to make an appointment to donate blood, visit RedCrossBlood.org, use the free Blood Donor App or call 1-800-REDCROSS.
Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer
Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer
By Ryan Lang, American Red Cross board member and volunteer
Volunteer work for the American Red Cross was never really something Mark Auburn considered. Now, 30 years into his service, he says the Red Cross has become a part of who he is.
Mark Auburn, American Red Cross board member and volunteer
“I don’t have a dramatic story, like many volunteers,” Mark said. “For me, it was swimming lessons when I was a kid – that’s where it started.” It was the personal connection that stood out to him. The time volunteers took with the members of his own community really made a difference to Mark.
Then, when he found out that the majority of the entire organization was volunteers, Mark said he bought-in even more.
“Ninety percent of the people who work for the Red Cross are volunteers. That’s incredible!” And over the course of his 30 years with the Red Cross, Mark has seen those volunteers help people in his own community and around the world. To witness first-hand the reach of the Red Cross has been nothing short of remarkable for Mark.
“One of the huge changes in the Red Cross over my 30 years of volunteering is the sense of relationship between the Red Cross and the community. When I started, we were very locally focused.” Mark has since seen the reach of the Red Cross extend around the world.
Sharing his story with his fellow volunteers is a key part of the Red Cross experience for Mark. “I think it’s important that volunteers talk with other volunteers to learn their individual Red Cross stories.” That’s part of why Mark is looking forward to the upcoming Volunteer Recognition and Appreciation event in Akron.
Mark is not only a volunteer, he’s also a longtime member of the Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley Chapter Board of Directors. And at 79-years-old, Mark is still going to meetings, face-to-face, to meet and work with fellow board members and other volunteers, all in the name of the Red Cross mission.
The biggest part of that mission is to “alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies.” Recently, Mark experienced his own health emergency when he was hospitalized with COVID- 19. “I had complications that resulted in an internal bleed,” Mark said.
During his hospital stay Mark suffered a stroke. As a result, he needed six units of blood. “Because of the blood donated by strangers I am able to tell my Red Cross story today. Someone I will never know gave blood because they believe in the mission of the Red Cross, and it saved my life.”
Mark has seen the impact the Red Cross has made in his own life and around the world, and he encourages everyone to find out more about it for themselves. To do so, visit redcross.org.
Posted by Ryan Lang, American Red Cross board member and volunteer
CLEVELAND, April 16, 2024 When John Gareis began his career with the American Red Cross, there were elevator operators in the building that housed the offices in Cleveland. Blood collected from donors was stored in glass bottles – not the plastic pouches used today. “And there were no electronics,” John said, pointing to an old typewriter on display in the lobby of the current Red Cross offices in Cleveland.
John Gareis and wife Emily at a Red Cross fundraiser
If the computer systems that exist today were common then, John may not have been hired.
“I saw a notice posted on a job board at CSU (Cleveland State University),” John said. He was studying business management at the time and needed a part-time job. “They asked me if I had good handwriting. I said, ‘I guess so,’ and I got the job.”
48 years later, John is retiring from the Red Cross, following a storied career that began in the records department, where he was tasked with writing blood donor information by hand.
Lt. Mike Norman, left, and Chief Anthony Luke of the Cleveland Division of Fire recently presented John with a plaque and a badge as an honorary officer
“It was only supposed to last a couple of weeks,” he said with a wry grin.
“I met John in December 1986,” said Darlene Morris, the current manufacturing director at the blood laboratory in Cleveland. “I had started at Red Cross the month prior, and he was hosting our Christmas party.! He had a great sense of humor and was fun to be around.”
John eventually transferred from Biomedical Services to Humanitarian Services and led the Wayne County chapter headquartered in Wooster. “Whenever there were any disasters or fires, John was always there to help,” said Greg Long, who served as the chapter chairman of the board. “He always had whatever was needed to assist the families and first responders.”
Greg said John worked hard to create and develop the Festival of Trees, a legacy fundraising event. And he worked with John to help build a new chapter headquarters building in downtown Wooster. “John put together a blue-ribbon campaign committee and we raised the money, 1.8 million dollars, and built the new chapter house.” Construction was completed in 2008.
John Gareis providing instructions at a Sound the Alarm event
John has weathered many changes in structure and operation at the Red Cross and is ending his career as the regional preparedness manager. Renee Palagyi, who worked closely with John for several years at regional headquarters in Cleveland, first met John in 2006, when she was a Red Cross volunteer in Ashtabula County. She served on a committee focused on disaster preparedness and response. “I was immediately struck by the wide base of knowledge John had, not just in disaster but in overall chapter function, fundraising, Service to the Armed Forces, and so much more,” she said. “Such an easy-going guy who was willing to share what he knew with the entire group.”
Arguably, John’s most significant contribution to the Red Cross involves the development of Operation Save-a-Life, an initiative to make homes and families safer with free smoke alarms. It began in 1992 in partnership with the Cleveland Division of Fire and served as a model for the national Home Fire Campaign, a highly successful initiative that is credited with saving more than 2,000 lives since being introduced nationwide in 2014.
“The success of the life-saving smoke alarm program is truly a credit to John and his desire to get it done,” said Renee. “For so many years our region was the gold standard in this program and that must be credited to John, who didn’t just lead it; he was out there installing alarms, teaching families how to be safe and pulling together incredible teams across the region for large scale installations.”
John Gareis at WKYC demonstrating the importance of building a preparedness kit
John is quick to note he wasn’t involved with the creation of the smoke alarm program, but he speaks of it with pride. “We started it. It went national because of the work done by our staff, our volunteers and our partners to make it such a success,” he said. “We wear that as a badge of honor, and we continue to be a national leader every day.”
Regional CEO Mike Parks also shared his high praise for John.
“John’s contribution to the American Red Cross over the past five decades cannot be overstated. His knowledge and expertise, especially when it comes to preparing communities and families for potential disasters, has resulted in a more resilient Northern Ohio,” he said. “His inspiring leadership of the Home Fire Campaign has created safer homes, families, and communities. Thanks to his tireless efforts, the Northern Ohio Region continues to set an example for the rest of the country when it comes to smoke alarm installations and homes made safer.”
Regional CEO Mike Parks recognized John’s contributions at the 30th anniversary celebration of the smoke alarm program
His retirement is not the end of John Gareis’ Red Cross career; he plans to continue sharing his expertise as a volunteer.
“I feel honored to have worked alongside John for the past eight years and look forward to continuing to do so as John moves into a volunteer role supporting our training team,” said Emily Probst, regional disaster officer.
Mike Parks shared a similar sentiment. “I wish John the very best in the future and am comforted in knowing he will continue to provide his valuable service to the Red Cross as a volunteer.”
Edited by Glenda Bogar, American Red Cross volunteer
Posted by Ryan Lang, American Red Cross board member and volunteer
Since October 2014, the campaign has saved at least 17 lives in Northern Ohio
The American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign with the support of community partners has achieved its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms and making 1 million households safer across the country.
Since launching in October 2014, the campaign has saved at least 1,583 lives nationwide — including 17 people in Northern Ohio — from the threat of home fires, which claim seven lives every day in the U.S. Most often, these tragedies occur in homes without working smoke alarms.
“We are proud of our incredible work with community partners to help save lives by providing free smoke alarms in Northern Ohio as part of the national Home Fire Campaign,” said John Gareis, Regional Preparedness Manager. “And we take special pride in knowing that the smoke alarm program we started more than 30 years ago in Cleveland served as a model for the current Red Cross Home Fire Campaign.” Watch a video of the history of the Home Fire Campaign in Cleveland.
In Northern Ohio since the start of the Home Fire Campaign in 2014, Red Cross volunteers and partners have: Installed more than 100,000 free smoke alarms Made 37,400 households safer Educated more than 31,000 children through youth preparedness programs
FREE HOME FIRE SERVICES TO CONTINUE Because home fires remain a daily threat and the campaign has made a lifesaving difference, the Red Cross will be continuing the program with community partners as part of its standard services, including Sound the Alarm events in communities throughout the region this spring to install free smoke alarms.
Visit soundthealarm.org/noh for a home fire safety visit if you need assistance, or to volunteer. No prior experience is needed. Training will be provided before volunteer teams visit area homes to install smoke alarms and share fire safety information. During the Sound the Alarm appointments, volunteers will install free smoke alarms, and will share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.
In addition, the campaign’s other services will continue, such as teaching children about the threat of home fires and what to do through youth preparedness programs, installing accessible fire safety equipment like bedshaker alarms and strobe light smoke alarms for residents who are deaf or hard of hearing, and providing home fire safety resources in American Sign Language.
Home fires account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually in the Northern Ohio Region and across the country. So far in 2023, Red Cross volunteers have helped nearly 400 people affected by nearly 200 home fires in the Northern Ohio Region by providing emergency lodging, financial assistance for urgent needs like food and clothing, and one-on-one recovery support for navigating next steps and connecting with community resources.
ONE HOME FIRE SURVIVOR’S STORY: Akron grandfather Shawn Spaulding had just returned home after a long day at work when fire broke out in his home. Read about his escape here.
HOW TO GET INVOLVED Help save lives through the campaign by becoming a volunteer or making a financial donation to prepare, respond and help families recover from home fires. Learn more at redcross.org/noh.
You can also help your family by testing your smoke alarms monthly and practicing your two-minute home fire escape plan. Additional safety tips are available at redcross.org/fire and on the free Red Cross Emergency app (search “American Red Cross” in mobile app stores).
Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer
What started as more of a convenience for Red Cross volunteer Anita Hicks , quickly became one of the most fulfilling parts of her life.
Anita is one of the hundreds of thousands of volunteers dedicated to the Red Cross Mission and providing an invaluable service to the community. Working at the front desk at the Akron Red Cross headquarters, she spends most of her days answering phones and greeting blood donors, volunteers and others as they walk through the doors, helping them find where they need to go. With her background in customer service, Anita says it was a match made in heaven from the moment she walked through the doors at 501 West Market Street 12 years ago.
Anita Hicks, Red Cross Volunteer
Before that, though, Anita says it was simply the location that drew her in, as the building was within walking distance of her apartment. She was recently retired and needed something to do, so she walked next door. And then, she says, she “immediately fell in love with it.”
Now, after 12 years of walking to work (at least on sunny days), Anita has developed a bond with so many of the blood donors, volunteers and Red Cross staff in the building. “They should be met with the Red Cross standard,” which Anita describes as “120% customer service,” adding, “Nothing beats a smile and a cheerful hello.”
But over the past two years, in dealing with COVID-19 protocols and even shutdowns, it’s been more of a challenge than ever before. The office has been more desolate and for nearly a year and a half, Anita was at home due to pandemic protocols. “I was a fish out of water,” she said of her time away from the office she loves so much.
Today, she’s back in the office two days a week.
“Anita has been a front desk volunteer as long as I can remember, always greeting everyone with a smile and willing to help chip in on any task that needs to be done,” said Rachel D’Attoma, executive director of the Red Cross of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley. “She will drive through a snowstorm to get to the building and still be smiling when she arrives. It is wonderful to have Anita and know that the Red Cross can count on her!”
“It’s just a pleasure. It’s always been a pleasure and it has continued to be a pleasure to be able to give a little bit of myself to someone else.” Anita adds, “I’ve bought into the Red Cross Mission 100%, and it means the world to me to offer my time to the Red Cross.”
Annual H. Peter Burg Community Leader award also presented
By the American Red Cross and Ryan Lang, Red Cross Volunteer
Two police officers, an off-duty firefighter, an assistant middle school principal, a municipal recreation worker, a vacationing teenager and a professional model will be honored for bravery and acts of heroism, at the 26th annual Acts of Courage awards, presented by the American Red Cross of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley.
The annual dinner and award ceremony will take place on Thursday, March 3, 2022, at the Hilton Akron/Fairlawn, 3180 W. Market Street, Akron, Ohio 44333.
Bernett L. Williams, H. Peter Burg Community Leader Award recipient
As a special feature of the Acts of Courage awards, the Red Cross takes an opportunity to present a community member, who has spent a lifetime pursuing good deeds, with the H. Peter Burg Community Leader award. This year, the award will be presented to Bernett L. Williams, Vice President External Affairs at Akron Children’s Hospital.
Acts of Courage Award Winners:
LaDonya Williams, Acts of Courage Award Recipient
LaDonya S. Williams, day care provider and model, Akron, Ohio While sitting at a traffic light at V. Odom and Raymond St., a motorist careened wildly down the street, crashing into the car in-front of LaDonya Williams and her father, off-duty Akron Police Department detective, Donny Williams.
A woman leapt out of the vehicle, screaming that her 7-month-old baby was choking. Working quickly, LaDonya pulled the 7-month old child out of the car and successfully performed infant abdominal thrusts, taught by the American Red Cross.
LaDonya, who in addition to being a licensed day care worker, is a professional model, and was supposed to be in Chicago on a modeling job, but canceled at the last minute. It was a decision that may have saved that baby’s life.
Tim Haas, Acts of Courage Award Recipient
Tim Haas – Asst. Chief, Brunswick Hills Fire Department On just the second day of a family vacation to Mexico, Brunswick resident Tim Haas played the hero. While at the main pool of the resort where the family was staying, Hass, saw a 2 year-old girl being taken out of the pool.
The child had drowned. She was not breathing and had no pulse. Tim utilized his extensive training and performed CPR until she was revived, about two minutes later. Emergency personnel at the resort then responded, and later told Haas the girl was “doing well.”
Anthony Hermann, Assistant Principal, Barberton Local Schools Eighth grade Assistant Principal Anthony Hermann was helping clean up on a Taco Tuesday during lunch at Barberton Middle School. As students were getting ready to return to class, Mr. Hermann was called on to use the first aid training he and other administrators are required to learn.
Anthony Hermann, Acts of Courage Award Recipient
A student was choking on his meal and unable to verbalize his distress. Mr. Hermann could tell immediately what was wrong and moved into action. As he patted the child’s back, trying to dislodge the food that was blocking his airway, the student passed out.
As the situation unfolded, Mr. Hermann called for the room to be cleared and began to perform abdominal thrusts to dislodge the food. Eventually, the student regained consciousness.
John Doyle, Acts of Courage Award Recipient
John Doyle, Recreation Supervisor, City of Macedonia During Macedonia’s SummerFest 5K in 2021, Recreation Supervisor John Doyle was clearing the trails toward the end of the run and noticed a man face down on the trail. Recognizing him as the runner who had just passed him, John immediately radioed for EMS and approached the man. After performing multiple rounds of CPR, several other workers arrived with an AED and LUCAS device.
The runner regained his pulse and was breathing before being taken to the hospital.
Officer Lenny Kunka, Officer Kyle Auckland – Kent Police Department A 14-year-old girl was babysitting a 1-year-old around 8 a.m. on a Saturday morning, when she heard someone trying to get inside. Unable to get away, she hid in a bathroom and bravely called 911. Through whispered exchanges, she spoke with dispatch.
Kent Police Officers Kyle Auckland and Lenny Kunka, Acts of Courage Award Recipients
Two Kent police officers, officer Lenny Kunka and officer Kyle Auckland, responded to the call. Almost immediate shots were fired by the intruder. Officer Kunka was shot in the hand. Officer Auckland’s bullet-resistant vest saved his life when he was shot in the chest. Both officers have recovered.
The suspect was subdued and arrested.
Travis Shrout, College Student, Stow, Ohio While vacationing in Topsail, North Carolina, 19-year-old Stow resident Travis Shrout went swimming. While at the beach, he noticed a mother and young child in distress in the water.
Travis Shrout, Acts of Courage Award Recipient
Travis pursued them using his body board. He first reached the mother and gave her the body board. He then swam toward the boy, who was struggling to stay above the waves some 10-yards away. Travis used his Red Cross lifeguard training to calm and rescue the boy, navigating both mother and son out of the rip current and safely to shore.
My first Acts of Courage Awards as a Red Cross Board Member:
Working in radio news for the past six years in Akron, I’m very familiar with the Red Cross Acts of Courage event. In fact, I’ve covered a lot of these heroes in the news over that time.
Acts of Courage Awards (Photo credit: Debbie Chitester, Red Cross)
But this year was my first in-person Acts of Courage event as a Red Cross board member, and the experience was even more rewarding that I could have imagined.
Prior to Thursday night’s ceremony, I had the chance to meet several of this year’s heroes and hear their stories firsthand. That was a few weeks ago, and as emotionally affected as I was then, I figured I was prepared to keep my composure during the main event.
I was not.
Hearing these stories from the men and woman that lived them was once again an emotional experience for me. LaDonya’s selflessness, Tim’s training in action, Anthony’s sense of duty to his student, John’s quick reaction, Lenny and Kyle’s bond, and Travis’ maturity and composure… Every single story moved me as if I was hearing them again for the first time.
These folks are heroes. They represent the best parts of our community and the Red Cross is proud to recognize them for their extraordinary acts of courage.
Bernett L. Williams, H. Peter Burg Award recipient with Ryan Lang, Red Cross Board Member (Photo credit: Debbie Chitester, Red Cross)
And then there was Bernett L. Williams, this year’s H. Peter Burg Award recipient, who was presented the award by her two sons, Todd and Jacob; two impressive young men who spoke so highly of their mother.
Bernett L. Williams and her sons Todd and Jacob (Photo credit: Debbie Chitester, Red Cross)
Bernett’s resume and long list of contributions to the community speak for themselves, but from where I was sitting, it was the testimony of her sons that truly spoke to Bernett’s character and her impact on the people around her. The way those young men carried themselves and spoke of their mother was beyond impressive and as the son of a remarkable woman myself, I could feel the pride swelling within them.
From her work with Akron Children’s Hospital to her leadership role in the Akron Urban League to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank and the Women’s Endowment Fund, Leadership Akron, Summit for Kids, and the list goes on, Bernett is the epitome of selflessness in the community.
The H. Peter Burg Community Leadership Award was made for Bernett L. Williams.
I was honored to be there last night and I’m honored to represent the Red Cross of Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley, if only from my small seat at a very large and distinguished table.
Flooding during the President’s Day weekend kept some Red Cross disaster workers busy across the Northern Ohio Region. Heavy rains in some parts of the region, along with melting snow caused flood damage that brought a Red Cross response to Lorain, Stark, Wayne and Harrison counties.
The village of Jewett in Harrison County was especially hard hit. Red Cross disaster program managers Tim Reichel and Mike Arthur were accompanied by volunteers Dan Best and Arden Tohill on Saturday, when they distributed clean-up kits to nearly two-dozen affected residences.
Jewett Flooding
“Those buckets have everything they need to get a good start,” Tim said during an interview with WTOV 9 news. “They’ve come out of their homes, they’ve welcomed us, we’ve gotten a few hugs along the way,” Tim continued. “It’s what we do and it’s a pleasure to do it.”
Weekend responses also included home fires in Cleveland, Akron, Wooster, and Masury, Ohio in Trumbull County. More than 60 children and adults received Red Cross assistance throughout Northern Ohio.
February has been a very busy month for Red Cross Disaster Action Teams. Responses are up more than 30% over February of 2021, and Red Cross caseworkers are continuing to help hundreds of people find a path to recovery.
While President’s Day is a federal holiday, the Red Cross remains ready to respond to emergencies, today and every day of the year.
“While many will be relaxing with family and friends, our teams remain vigilant,” said Tim O’Toole, Regional Disaster Officer.
Jewett Flooding
If you’d like to help neighbors in need following a home fire, flooding or some other disaster, visit redcross.org/volunteer to apply for a spot on our Disaster Action Teams. The Red Cross is also in need of trained medical and mental health professionals to assist people following disasters big and small. A virtual information session for licensed healthcare and mental healthcare providers will be held this Thursday, February 24, from 12:00 to 1:00 pm. To RSVP for this event, email neovolunteer@redcross.org, or call 216-431-3328. A Microsoft Teams meeting link will be emailed to you prior to the event. A conference call option will also be available.
By Samantha Pudelski, American Red Cross Volunteer
The American Red Cross of Northern Ohio held holiday blood drives across the region, providing an opportunity for donors to give the gift of life for people in need during this holiday season.
Hailee Horstman, Blood Donor
The drives were held between December 14th and December 23rd at the Rocket Mortgage Fieldhouse in Cleveland, the Hilton Garden Inn in Twinsburg, the Sheraton Suites Akron/Cuyahoga Falls, the Hilton Garden Inn in Perrysburg and Stambaugh Auditorium and Packard Music Hall in Youngstown.
Daniel Salmons, Blood Donor
The Red Cross put the call out to the public, encouraging them to donate at our holiday drives, and our community members answered. Across all of the holiday blood drives, 1,240 pints of blood were donated to provide critical help for patients across the region.
Each donation can help up to three patients awaiting a blood product – red blood cells, platelets, or plasma. That means more than 3,700 people will possibly benefit by the donations made at this year’s holiday blood drives.
Lee Holmes-Blood Donor
Blood donations help patients in our community of all ages, including accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer, among others. In fact, every two seconds someone in the U.S. needs blood.
The need this year is high, as pandemic challenges and concerns, along with the typical winter lulls, have resulted in historically low levels of blood supply. If you haven’t had a chance to donate—don’t delay. We are calling all eligible donors this January as part of National Blood Donor Month to roll up their sleeves and donate. To find an upcoming blood donation drive near you, click here.
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