Red Cross honors volunteers
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on July 10, 2013 1:46 PM
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The Wayne County Chapter of the American Red Cross recently gave its annual awards to volunteers that exceeded expectations.
"They receive the award for going the extra mile," Tammy Forrester, Chapter CEO for Wayne, Greene and Lenoir counties. "They're always able to work last minute and are always making sure everything is in order at disaster relief sites or blood drives."
This year's recipients were Audrey King, Ernest Triplet and Roberto Mendoza. King received the Dora Perry Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year award, Triplet received the Donald Best Blood Services Volunteer of the Year award and Mendoza received the Mary C. Norwood Volunteer of the Year award.
"It means a lot," Mendoza said. "It shows what people can do for their community. We don't do this for the awards, we do it because this is what we love to do."
The Donald Best award is given for exemplary service in disaster relief and blood drives in honor of Best, who was a volunteer and blood drive coordinator for years, Forrester said.
The Dora Perry award is given to an outstanding disaster relief volunteer for shelters.
"These awards are reserved for going above and beyond," Forrester said. "They've all given so much of themselves to the Red Cross."
The Mary C. Norwood award is given to the overall volunteer of the year. Norwood was a long time Red Cross volunteer and board member.
Forrester said Mendoza received the award because "he gives in all facets. He fills in gaps with disaster relief, helps with health and safety and helps with any services to the armed forces. He's a minuteman, and he always seems to be at your beckon call to do what needs to be done."
"All my life I've been doing things with my hand out for the reward," Triplet said. "It's so nice to be able to finally do something that isn't for the reward."