The American Red Cross of the North Texas Region Panhandle Plains Chapter recently recognized volunteers from the South Plains and Panhandle for their volunteer contributions to the Red Cross and lifetime achievements.
The Panhandle Plains Chapter awarded 17 individuals from both the previously titled South Plains and Panhandle Chapters in their 2022 annual Volunteer Recognition Award Ceremony.
Amarillo natives included in the recognition ceremony include Scott Dunn receiving the 2022 Rising Star Award for his enthusiastic commitment to the American Red Cross in the first year of service; Warren Kretzmeier who was awarded the The Albina and Bob Young Lifetime Achievement for their 15 years of service to the Red Cross and lasting commitment to servicing the Community; Karen Freyer who was recognized for contributions to the Red Cross Business, Operations and Administration; Myrl Betts and Marci Rossiter who both received Exceptional Volunteer Awards; and husband and wife duo Ron and Nancy Strader who received the 2022 Volunteer of the Year Award for their exceptional performance, improvement and expansion in delivery of Red Cross services to the community with dedication to the chapter.
Ron Strader spoke about how the recognition from the Red Cross to himself and his wife was much appreciated, but he said that is not why they volunteer, adding they hope to inspire others to do the same.
“The excitement for us, or enjoyment, comes from us being able to serve the community and being able to help people when they are unprepared and these unfortunate events or natural disasters affect them. What ever the situation may be we, through the Red Cross, are able to provide some form of comfort for those in need to give them the opportunity to get back on their feet and that is why we volunteer, not to be recognized in this way. Although it is a very nice award, we do this because we care,” said Strader.
According to Strader, he and his wife began volunteering with the Red Cross approximately five years ago after retiring from their regular careers. He said they wanted to give their time to those in need. The couple now hopes that their work with the Red Cross inspires others to volunteer as well.
Volunteer recruitment lead for the Panhandle Plains Chapter, Linn Behling Hughes, was the recipient of the 2022 One Red Cross Award and the Presidential Lifetime Volunteer Achievement Pin for serving over 4,000 volunteer hours. She spoke about the importance of recognizing these individuals for their work in the communities across the Panhandle and beyond.
“We host this award show annually to show those within the Red Cross that they are appreciated. We want to show them that we are watching and we do care and we know that often times they are not doing this for the recognition, but we still want to thank them because, without them, we wouldn’t be the Red Cross, and we wouldn’t be able to help people in the way that we do,” said Hughes.
The Red Cross is a non-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. The non-profit shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families.
The 2022 award ceremony also included individuals from the previously named South Plains Chapter centered in Lubbock, including Thomas Kupfer as Volunteer of the Year, Michael Richards as recipient of the Disaster Response Award, Amanda Summers with the Rising Star Award, Lydia Cates with the Youth in Action Award, Ben Phillips with the Disaster Preparedness Award, Betty and Stan Foster with the 30 Years of Service Pin, among others receiving Business Operations/Administration Awards and Exceptional Volunteer Awards.
The recognition included both chapters due to the new partnership within the Red Cross between the previously named South Plains Chapter and Panhandle Chapter, combining the two to the now titled Panhandle Plains Chapter.
To register or learn more about volunteering with the American Red Cross visit them online at redcross.org/volunteer.
For more information about the American Red Cross, visit them online at redcross.org/northtexas or cruzrojaamericana.org, or follow them on Twitter at @RedCrossNTX.
