SANTA ROSA (July 10, 2018) — The American Red Cross of the California Northwest honored six volunteers from Humboldt and Del Norte counties at its annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner on June 23, 2018, at the Lost Coast Brewery. Volunteers honored at the dinner include:
- Disaster Master Award: Doug Ronjoin of Crescent City
- Gumby Award: Allen Puderbaugh of Crescent City
- Community Engagement Award: Mary Dorman of Crescent City
- Volunteer Supervisor Award: Maritza Guzman of McKinleyville
- New Volunteer of the Year Award: Sandy Haux of Trinidad
- Volunteer of the Year Award: Tyge Bellinger of Arcata
In addition, a number of people were honored at the event for the number of hours they volunteered to the Red Cross in 2017. While the annual event spotlights a number of key volunteers, dinner emcee Julie Mucilli said the event is designed to acknowledge all of the Red Cross’s local volunteers. “Our volunteers take on a variety of important roles in serving our communities,” says Mucilli, Volunteer Services Manager for Humboldt & Del Norte counties. “All of our volunteers give selflessly of their time, and the Red Cross would not be able to provide the help and support we do without them.”
Photos from the event can be found on the California Northwest Chapter’s Flickr site: https://www.flickr.com/photos/redcrosscalnw/albums/72157692601131180.
Become a Red Cross Volunteer
You can make a difference in the California Northwest by becoming a volunteer with the American Red Cross. Volunteers constitute about 94 percent of the total Red Cross workforce to carry out our humanitarian work. Red Cross volunteers are trained to meet the needs of those affected by disasters, providing food, shelter and comfort for families affected by major disasters such as fires, floods, and earthquakes as well as helping local residents prepare for and recover from emergencies of all kinds. We’ll find the position that appeals to you and allows you to use your skills and talents. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org.
About American Red Cross of the California Northwest
With office locations in Del Norte, Humboldt, Lake, Mendocino, Napa, and Sonoma counties, the American Red Cross is a non-profit, humanitarian organization that depends on the generous contributions of time and money from residents and companies to provide services and programs that help our community to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. For more information, visit our website at redcross.org/calnw or call us at 1-707-577-7600. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
When Hurricane Katrina hit in 2005, George Dresnek explored ways to help and found himself in an American Red Cross call center in Oakland. He now regularly deploys for the Red Cross as a facilities expert to 6 to 7 disaster responses a year, volunteer work that can take him away for up to 28 days at a time. Acknowledging the incredible sacrifices he makes on behalf of those in need, George readily credits his wife for this generosity. “I retired in 2012,” he smirks, describing his ongoing availability for service. “But she was the one who told me to ‘get a hobby.’” Read more
Benjamin Greenberg looked for a way to give back for a long time. A resident of Santa Rosa since 1999, Ben grappled with frustrating circumstances and a host of medical issues that left him on disability with a light work schedule. However, when the fires hit in October 2017, the Coddington resident thought, “I should do something.”
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