FORT STEWART, Ga. Fort Stewart officials honored volunteers who have given back during the 2009 American Red Cross Volunteer Awards and Recognition Ceremony, March 26.
"You are absolutely invaluable to our readiness," said Maj. Gen. Tony Cucolo, 3rd Infantry Division commander. "We need you and our Families need you."
The Red Cross is a charitable organization - not a government agency - and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters, provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply, teaches lifesaving skills, and supports military members and their Families.
The 115 Red Cross volunteers who were honored at the ceremony served a combined total of nearly 11,000 hours in 2008.
During 2008, Stewart's Red Cross briefed 10,018 servicemembers and their Families, and serviced 2,433 casework and emergency communication messages.
"It is important to recognize the volunteers because the volunteers are the backbone of the Red Cross," said Alphonsa Oliver, Fort Stewart's American Red Cross senior station manager. "If not for the volunteers, the Red Cross could not do all the things that we do, not only at Fort Stewart but around the world."
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization that helps people prepare for and cope with emergencies through the efforts of the volunteers and donations from the American people, said Oliver.
"Volunteers are vital to our society, and they represent everything that is good about us," said Shirley Hines-Atkins, former regional manager and regional chairman for American Red Cross and guest speaker for the event. "Our society is finally beginning to recognize the value of volunteers.
"Volunteers, you are a member of the most respected work force in America," said Hines-Atkins. "Your volunteer time is recognized as job experience and time in service."
The goal of the American Red Cross is to motivate, retain and to continue to recruit volunteers, said Oliver, who has been with the Red Cross for 30 years and has been here since January.
One of the volunteers recognized during the ceremony was Brigitte Shanken, who has volunteered her time for the past 31 years.
"I truly enjoy volunteering and making a difference," said Shanken. "It is extremely important to volunteer in the community, because you are part of the community that you live in and you can make a difference. It's a wonderful experience."
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