Red Cross honors volunteers
By Becky Barclay
Published in News on December 3, 2010 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/BOBBY WILLIAMS
Jimmy Frederick was presented the Red Cross Lifesaving Award of Merit, a national award, for saving a co-worker's life last year. Frederick performed the Heimlich maneuver on the choking woman.
Don Davenport received the Mary Norwood Volunteer of the Year Award for the Wayne County chapter of the American Red Cross at its annual recognition banquet Thursday.
In addition to his full-time job as county manager of Greene County, Davenport was also instrumental in helping the Greene County office of the Red Cross grow to where it is today.
"He is a selfless person who puts the needs of others before his own," presenter Samia Garner said. "He has proven time and time again that he's willing to do whatever he has to, to support the Red Cross mission."
Ms. Garner noted that Davenport started the Tri-County Tennis Classic in Greene County to benefit the Red Cross. It has raised about $30,000 for the organization. And it was named the 2010 charity event of the year by the North Carolina Tennis Association.
During the awards banquet, Jimmy Frederick received a national award including a certificate signed by President Obama. He was presented the Lifesaving Award of Merit for using the Heimlich maneuver on co-worker Gloria Bass in 2009 as she choked on a piece of hard candy, saving her life. Frederick learned the Heimlich maneuver during a Red Cross class.
Several groups received awards for sponsoring blood drives. The Margaret Moore Award for the company with 100 or fewer employees that collects the most blood went to Chevrolet Cadillac of Goldsboro. The local car dealership sponsored two blood drives during the year, collecting 195 units of blood.
The company with 100 or more employees collecting the most blood received the Arnold B. Edgerton Award. It went to Wayne Memorial Hospital. The hospital collected 402 units of blood during the year, holding blood drives every other month.
Charles B. Aycock High School once again received the school award for hosting three blood drives, collecting 353 units of blood.
The Dora Perry Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Robert Mendoza, who is part of the Red Cross chapter's disaster team. During the flooding in September, Mendoza spent a week delivering meals to victims and helping them get back on their feet.
He also drives the chapter's Emergency Response Vehicle in parades, and represents the Red Cross at other community events. He's a volunteer fireman and a first responder.
John Potter received the Donald Best Blood Services Volunteer of the Year Award.
When the regular blood coordinator became ill, Potter took over those duties, recruiting volunteers for blood drives, helping with the canteen and whatever else needed to be done.
During the banquet, executive director Chuck Waller talked about some of the services the Red Cross provides, saying there were 74 single-family fires last year that affected 202 local people. The Red Cross assisted with temporary lodging, food, clothing, medications and other needs of the fire victims.
The chapter also delivered 175 emergency communications to members of the Armed Forces.
And it collected 6,781 units of blood at 187 blood drives.
Red Cross instructors taught CPR and first aid to 4,981 people in Wayne County.
More than 600 elementary school students received water safety tips during Water Safety Awareness Week.
Waller praised the Red Cross volunteers attending, saying that "the Red Cross is each of you and we are what we are because of you."