Cynthia Skidmore climbed on a tank and felt at home. A U.S. Air Force veteran and military family member, Cynthia had recently volunteered with the American Red Cross as a member of the Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) team. While assisting at a military family picnic, she climbed the tank, saw the families, remembered the times she and her husband served when their children were young, and thought, “This is awesome!” She wanted to keep helping, to reach as many as possible, and knew the effectiveness of the Red Cross’ SAF team in assisting military service members, veterans and their families.
Cynthia Skidmore, Red Cross volunteer
After an exceptional Air Force career, Cynthia left in 2007 to focus on raising their five children while her husband, who was deployed in Saudi Arabia during 9/11, continued to serve. He retired from the Air Force in 2018 after 25 years, and her son Josh joined about the same time. Following the pandemic and her children becoming young adults, Cynthia, who has always been driven and full of purpose —“Going 90 MPH with [her] hair on fire”— found the house empty, felt lost and wanted to help others.
The Red Cross came to mind. Cynthia knew the tremendous feats a dedicated team can accomplish and the feeling of doing something bigger than oneself. She began volunteering with the Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley chapter in 2022 and quickly made an impact.
Cynthia brings extraordinary skills and experience to the Red Cross. Having taught chemical warfare classes and focusing on disaster management while in the Air Force, she is skilled in public speaking and understands many elements of being in an armed forces family, as a veteran, spouse, mother, daughter and granddaughter.
Cynthia’s father, who recently passed away, helped inspire her sense of purpose and drive. A U.S. Navy veteran who served during Vietnam, Cynthia’s father was giving and deeply caring, often helping others, and loved Cynthia’s work with the Red Cross, both as a volunteer and blood donor. Her grandfather was also a Navy veteran. Thus, Cynthia continues her family’s tradition of giving.
In our conversation, Cynthia spoke highly of her Red Cross team and how much can be accomplished when people work together to help others. She enjoys being part of such a team and getting things done.
When asked about her favorite volunteer experiences, she said she has many. One that stood out was assisting at a deployment briefing when several volunteers brought in dogs. Cynthia, whose family has four dogs, said the service members’ children lit up upon seeing them. The dogs helped dispel fear, brought peace, normalcy and joy.
Cynthia Skidmore at a Summit County Veterans Stand Down event
Another favorite event is the Summit County Veterans Stand Down, where homeless and displaced veterans interview for jobs, receive haircuts, medical assistance, food, clothing and additional assistance. It is a tremendous help to those who have served and currently need assistance, and Cynthia is looking forward to the next one.
Cynthia also enjoys her regular volunteer work and being able to help, whether in person or being a compassionate voice on a telephone line.
For any veterans considering joining the Red Cross, Cynthia says volunteering is exceptionally rewarding and presents the opportunity to serve others in ways you never imagined. “It’s the next best thing to wearing a uniform,” she said.
For more information on the Red Cross’ Service to the Armed Forces or to volunteer, please visit this link.
Edited by Glenda Bogar, Red Cross volunteer
Posted by Ryan Lang, Red Cross board member and volunteer
By Ryan Lang, Red Cross Board Member and volunteer
Brian Glasscock, Red Cross volunteer
“Being able to see the immediate impact the Red Cross can have when someone’s going through one of their worst experiences – that’s what’s kept me going for the past six years.”
For Brian Glasscock, it was personal when he started volunteering for the American Red Cross. He was still living in California and his family was forced to evacuate their home due to a wildfire. That was the moment Brian decided he wanted to help people in similar situations.
Brian’s been a part of the Disaster Action Team since he began volunteering six years ago. He’s moved up to Coordinator for Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties and serves as the Disaster Response Supervisor for the region.
“When the Red Cross shows up, something is going really quite wrong in someone’s life,” Brian said. He knows – he’s been there and he’s seen the impact the Red Cross can immediately have in those moments. It’s why he does it.
Brian has since found many other perks in his volunteer work. “Being a disaster volunteer with the Red Cross has helped me learn to communicate with diverse groups of people. It has exposed me to the richness of Northeast Ohio,” he said. “Volunteering for the Red Cross has opened up a whole new lens to the community I live in.”
But like many Red Cross volunteers, Brian has a full-time job – one that requires him to travel quite a bit. How can he fit in volunteering on top of everything else? “You can do a shift every weekend, or even every other weekend,” Brian explains. “With the Disaster Action Team, you can do both – have a career and give back to the community by volunteering with the Red Cross.”
To find out how you can volunteer with the Red Cross or other ways to help, click here!
By Mary Williams, Special Events and Marketing, American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio
AKRON, January 23, 2019 – I went through a phase, not so long ago – in the early 2000s, when I listened to the Greatest Hits of Dan Fogelbergincessantly.
(I promise that this is going somewhere Red Cross related, folks!)
I lived with my parents at the time and would listen to the music, primarily, while doing my homework at the dining room table. The perfect place for everyone in the household to hear my obsessive 70s lite rock journey.
My father stopped on his way to the kitchen during the song Longer one day. With tears in his eyes, he confided that the song reminded him of my sister and the time when she was very sick (which would have been sometime around when the song originally came out.) With lyrics such as “longer than there’s been stars up in the heavens, I’ve been in love with you,” the song perfectly verbalized the love of a father for his daughter.
She had been diagnosed with Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura, and while doing wonderfully now – nearly forty years later, the ensuing procedures and doctor visits were frightening for my father.
Idiopathic Thrombocytopenia Purpura, as defined on the Mayo Clinic website, is a blood disorder that can lead to easy or excessive bruising and bleeding. The bleeding results from unusually low levels of platelets – the cells that help clot blood. Early symptoms mirror those of leukemia and other scary sounding blood related disorders.
“Though the binding cracks, and the pages start to yellow…”
Today is the sixth anniversary of my father’s passing, and so, in honor of him (and my sister) this afternoon I walked down to the Summit Blood Donation Center to donate.
Mary Williams
The need for blood is constant.
The Red Cross currently has an emergency need for blood and platelet donors to give now to help ensure lifesaving medical treatments and emergency care are not delayed or canceled this winter. The Red Cross collected more than 27,000 fewer blood and platelet donations the weeks of Christmas and New Year’s than needed to sustain a sufficient blood supply, as busy holiday schedules kept donors away. Blood and platelet donations are needed in the coming days so that lifesaving blood products are available for patients who depend on transfusions for everyday survival.
You can help by donating (or if you can’t donate, finding a friend who can donate in your place) today by simply visiting www.redcrossblood.org and entering your zip code to find a blood drive near you.
If you, like me, are in Summit County, stop by our fixed site at the Akron Office (501 W. Market St., across from The Tangier) during these times:
Looking back 100 years at the Summit, Portage & Medina Counties Chapter
(Editor’s Note: This is the first in a series of centennial-related stories involving the founding of Red Cross chapters in Northeast Ohio)
By Doug Bardwell, American Red Cross volunteer
Have you ever asked yourself, “What will I be remembered for?”
Mary E. Gladwin 1887 – Photo courtesy of University of Akron Archives*
I’m not sure if Mary E. Gladwin (1861-1939) ever asked herself that question, but if she had, her answer could certainly put any of us to shame.
Born in England, Mary and her family moved to Akron in 1868. At age 26, she graduated from Buchtel College (which later became Akron University) and began to teach. Moved by her father’s stories of being saved by a nurse on a French battlefield, she longed to do more than teach. Moving to Boston in 1894, she began training as a nurse at Boston City Hospital.
During the Spanish-American war, she moved to Cuba as a Red Cross volunteer, followed closely by a stint in the Philippines. After years of service in the field, she was readmitted to Boston City Hospital’s School of Nursing, receiving her degree in 1902.
Early in 1904, Gladwin served in Hiroshima, Japan during the Russo-Japanese War, where she received multiple awards for her service. Later that year, she returned to serve as Superintendent for Beverly Hospital in Massachusetts. That was followed by a move to New York City, taking the same role at Woman’s Hospital.
Mary Gladwin (standing 4th from right) attending to patients during the Russo-Japanese War*
Mary Gladwin in Belgrade with two Serbian officers-Photo Courtest of University of Akron archives
In 1913, the greatest natural disaster to ever hit Ohio was the Great Dayton Flood. Gladwin answered the call and moved back to Ohio to direct the Red Cross’ nursing services. Staying in Ohio, she moved to Cleveland later in 1913, organizing and directing the Visiting Nurses Association of Akron. Eventually, she became president of the Ohio State Nurses Association, and director for the American Nurses Association.As World War I broke out in 1914, Gladwin went with the Red Cross to Belgrade, Serbia, caring for 9,000 soldiers in a hospital with a designed occupancy of 1,000. Care ranged from battlefield injuries to fighting the typhus plague.
Returning in 1916, she became an incorporator and member of the first Board of Directors for the Summit County Chapter of the American Red Cross. The chapter received its charter on June 29, 1916 and one day later, the women’s auxiliary was formed.
Heading back to Europe, she once again was on the front lines in Serbia and then Salonica, Greece, until the war ended in 1919. Returning to the US, after becoming the first recipient of the Florence Nightingale Medal, she decided her new focus would be nursing education and directed various schools of nursing until her death in Akron in 1939.
While we can all be in awe of her remarkable life of service, we can also see how perfectly her life’s work mirrored the mission of today’s Red Cross – “preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies, by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.”
If you’d like to be remembered for something, become a volunteer. Learn more by logging on to the Red Cross website.
*(Note: All photos from the Mary Gladwin Papers at Archival Services at The University of Akron.
As I reflect on the past 4 years of working with an amazing team of volunteers to provide free transportation to all residents in Summit County, I realize that I have made a lot of great friends.
This team is made up of the most caring, and compassionate people I have encountered in my 33-years of working with the Red Cross. You have worked on days that were miserably cold and snowy, days that were hot and humid and never complained. I just want to say thank you for letting me be a part of this team, and thank each and every one on the team for all that you have done.
Volunteers are the body and soul of Red Cross. They graciously commit their time and energy to provide services and awareness to their communities. On June 9th, the Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties Chapter celebrated some amazing volunteers at the Chapter’s annual meeting and volunteer recognition.
The theme of this year’s meeting was “Right in Your Own Backyard”, signifying that despite any changes that have taken place over the past year the Red Cross continues to serve each community in Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties — right in your backyard. To highlight this sentiment, the room was decorated like a backyard picnic! Attendees were treated to pulled bar-b-q pork, baked beans, pasta salad, lemonade, and a strawberry shortcake station for desert.
During the meeting, five volunteers were recognized by Rachel D’Attoma, Executive Director, for their outstanding dedication and achievements. Jim Reed was recognized for his achievements in the Chapter and Transportation Services. Bruce Foster was recognized for his work in the Services to the Armed Forces. David Riegler was recognized for his dedication in Disaster Cycle Services. Beata Bogyor was recognized for her continued support in Preparedness Health and Safety Services. And Bev Krizay was recognized for her work in Blood Services.
The meeting also included the induction of new board members who will start their three-year term this July. The members include, Jason Roche, Justin Markey, Patrick Stobb, Kim Kline, Cindy Johnson, Pam Williams, Mary Link, Mona Sarkar, Assistant Chief Charlie Brown, Ann Otto, Michele Siudak, Willis Walker, Todd Peetz, Jack McCabe, Vicky Snyder, Eric Shaffer, and Kim Rice.
If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross volunteer please visit Volunteer or call 216-431-3328.
The Summit, Portage, and Medina Counties Chapter is pleased to announce the local heroes who were honored for their bravery and heroism at the annual Acts of Courage event on Thursday, March 5.
The 2015 Honorees included:
Donald Molesky, Christopher Silbaugh and John Underwood were recognized for saving the lives of a couple after a torrential downpour left them trapped in their flooded basement.
A tornado watch was in effect for Cuyahoga Falls. As the water line began to rise during the sudden and torrential downpour in May of 2014, the Hammonds family sought safety in the basement of their home. Once the threat of a tornado had cleared, the children returned to the main floor of the house, leaving their parents to clean-up a small amount of water that had seeped through one of the windows.
Suddenly, the basement wall caved in taking a natural gas line with it. Water rushed in, trapping Michaelann and Mike in the dark stillness of the basement. They rose on the crest of the water until their heads touched the ceiling. The floor joists offered the only air space, though it was tainted by the noxious fumes of the gas. They pounded on the wood, calling to the children to go and get help.
The Hammonds siblings – Emma, Matthew and Sonia – swam across the street to the home of their neighbor, Donald Molesky. Their screams alerted many of the neighbors, including Christopher Silbaugh, and strangers like John Underwood, whose truch had gotten stuck in the flooded road. John, Christopher and Donald ran to the house.
They pulled an ax from the Hammonds garage and used it, along with Donald’s power saw, to cut through the floorboards. They were able to free Michaelann. Working hard but carefully, they finally pulled Mike through the floor.
Peter Radke was recognized for saving a girl from drowning in Lake Erie.
Peter Radke had agreed to take his daughters and their friends to Lake Erie’s Huntington Beach for a birthday party. Though they knew the water was too choppy to swim, Peter noticed a girl in the water who was struggling to stay afloat. Peter was an excellent swimmer. In spite of the conditions, he dove into the water.
He reached the girl and was able to push her to a safe area where others could grab her.
As they did, Peter struggled to bring himself in. He was pulled further out into the temperamental, black waters of Lake Erie. Then he was pulled under, not to resurface. Peter lost his life to save that drowning girl.
David Eisele, Dave Wokaty and Officer Justin Winebrenner were recognized their actions when a gunman entered a crowded pub.
Dave Wokaty, David Eisle and Officer Justin Winebrenner were each enjoying a night out with friends at a local pub when Wokaty noticed the manager having an altercation with a customer.
15 minutes later, the customer returned brandishing a weapon. The manager asked Wokaty to see the customer out. Their voices rose in anger. Officer Justin Winebrenner, an off-duty Akron Police officer, and David Eisele joined Wokaty in seeing the customer out.
“From that moment, in my perspective, everything began to move slowly,” said Wokaty.
The gun went off. Though their fearless, and quick thinking saved many patrons and staff members, Wokaty was shot in the stomach and arm.
Officer Winebrenner received a fatal shot.
“I believe,” continued Wokaty,” if it weren’t for Justin, I wouldn’t be here now.”
The gunman ran off. He was caught shortly afterwards by the police.
Jason Duncan was recognized for performing CPR to save the life of a 7-day old infant.
On a cool night in early May, Jason Duncan and his wife Krista heard screaming coming from outside of their front door. Then they heard the sound of someone desperately pounding. Opening the door, Jason saw his neighbors, Bobbi Jo and Dustin holding their seven-day-old baby, Logan. The baby was not breathing and his lips had started to turn an unnatural shade of blackish-purple. While Krista dialed 911, Jason grabbed a nasal aspirator and began infant CPR.
In a few heartbeats, Logan’s tiny cry pierced the stillness. A sound that Jason and Dustin describe as one of the greatest sounds they ever heard.
Essien (Chris) Cobham and Samantha Phillips were recognized for performing CPR on a visiting student at Kent State University.
Kent State University student, Chris Cobham, was studying in a quiet area of the Student Union on campus, when he heard a thud. A high school student who had been visiting the campus was choking. Quickly assessing the situation, Chris stepped in and began abdominal thrusts on the boy. He slid him to the ground and began CPR once the student’s lips turned blue.
Samantha Phillips, who was cutting through the Student Union on her way to her next class, heard the panic in the conversations of those around her. She went to investigate.
“It’s instinct to go and help someone,” said Samantha, who is working on a degree in Athletic Training. Part of her curriculum is Red Cross certification in First Aid and CPR.
She could see that Chris was getting tired. Pulling out her CPR breathing mask, Samantha assisted breathing as Chris administered the chest compressions until help arrived. The boy was taken to the hospital, and is now back at home.
Bill Adkins and Tony Hylton were recognized for performing CPR on a friend, and fellow Seville Bronze worker.
When Jim Robinson fell to the floor not long after arriving at work, suffering from a massive heart attack, Bill Adkins and Tony Hylton responded quickly. Trained as part of the company-sponsored first responder team at Seville Bronze, they never thought they would be called to perform CPR on Jim.
“Jim was Superman at work. To be pushing on your friend of 18…20 years? It was devastating,” said Tony.
Their extensive training in Red Cross First Aid and CPR kicked in and they were able to help maintain Jim until paramedics arrived.
“If not for the efforts of Bill and Tony, Jim may not be alive today,” said Chief Jerry Winkler of the Seville-Guilford Fire and EMS.
Officer Derrick Jackson, and Officer Chris Crockett were recognized for saving a man from a home fire.
Officers Chris Crockett and Derrick Jackson reported to the scene of a house fire where someone was still inside. Knowing that seconds count in a fire, Officer Jackson, a new recruit on the Akron Police Department, pushed his way into the building. Thick smoke bellowed from the house. He came back out to catch his breath.
Officer Crockett returned to the police cruiser for a facemask to filter the smoke. Diving into the home, he too began searching around for the resident as Officer Jackson guided to him from the open door. Once the man was located, the officers pulled him to safety.
Devon McConnell, Ethan Cameron, Paul Martin and Andy Reece were recognized for saving two women and an infant from a fire.
Four Ohio Edison linemen — Devon McConnell, Ethan Cameron, Paul Martin and Andy Reece — sent to a job site in Rittman, were just getting ready to break for lunch when they heard a woman’s voice screaming, “Fire!”
Looking around, Paul Martin saw a woman standing on a balcony, holding a baby in her arms.
The crew called 911. Knowing that time was of the essence, they quickly moved into position. Moving their truck closer to the building, Devon raised the bucket and grabbed the family. As he was lowering the woman and child to the ground, another woman appeared on another balcony and began yelling for help. As heat rolled out of the open door, Devon returned to rescue the second woman. It took five fire departments to contain the blaze.
All four men have first responder certification, as well as Red Cross First Aid and CPR training. They view their actions as just another facet of their job.
“We are fortunate to have a sense of pride in our jobs. It is an amazing feeling, simply to see the lights come on,” said Paul.
Melvin Davis and Steve Myers were recognized for saving a woman from an apartment fire.
On a Friday night in October, a resident at the apartment complex where Melvin Davis is a Live-in Assistant ran into his apartment to alert him to a fire in one of the apartments. Moving quickly, Melvin grabbed his pass key and followed the man. He could smell the smoke. He called out to the resident, an elderly woman. She answered that she was hurt and couldn’t get to the door.
Melvin opened the door. Struggling to breathe, he couldn’t see more than two feet in front of himself. He called out again. He moved into the apartment but returned to the hallway when he heard the door slam shut behind him. Steve Myers, a resident of the complex, was in the hall and offered to hold the door so that Melvin would be able to find his way out.
Melvin returned into the smoke and crackling flames of the apartment. Working between the sound of the woman’s voice and the sound of Steve’s, he was able to pull the woman to the door. Steve and Melvin moved her to the safety of the stairwell and then began helping the rest of the residents out of the building.
“It was just a blessing to help her,” said Steve.
Officer Adam LeMonier, Officer Darren McConnell and Officer Gregory Mesko were recognized for saving a woman from a home fire.
Officers Adam LeMonier, Darren McConnell and Gregory Mesko were called to a smoke filled home. Neighbors reported that the resident was at home and had not been seen. Moving quickly, the officers made the decision to enter the home and search for the woman. The Officers found her asleep on her bed unaware of what was going on. She was quickly removed from the home.
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In addition to recognizing the heroism of area residents at the event, the American Red Cross of Summit, Portage and Medina Counties will present the H. Peter Burg Award to a community member who has been selfless in service to the community. This year’s recipient is William (Bill) J. Ginter, who demonstrates a lifelong commitment to humanitarian causes, charitable organizations and the vitality and welfare of the local community.
While CEO of FirstEnergy and chair of the local Red Cross Board of Directors, H Peter Burg established a legacy of dedicated service to the Greater Akron community. Following his death in 2004, the American Red Cross established an award in Pete’s name to honor his memory and inspire others. By bestowing the award on Bill the Red Cross recognizes his lifetime of community service.
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