American Red Cross
North Bay Chapter
490 Chadbourne Road
North Entrance, 2nd Floor
Fairfield, California 94534
redcross.org/northbay
Media Contact: Kathryn Hecht
Telephone: 707-291-9601
kathryn.hecht@redcross.org
FAIRFIELD, Calif. (June 24, 2021) — The American Red Cross of the North Bay honored six local residents and one community partner at a recent recognition event for chapter volunteers from Solano County. The annual event was held virtually on May 18 due to COVID-19 precautions.
At the event, James Perry of Vacaville received the Volunteer of the Year Award, the highest honor of volunteer achievement in the county. Given annually to an individual who best exemplifies the spirit of volunteerism, the award recognizes a volunteer who has contributed significantly in the current year to operations, programs and services, as well as to the mission of the Red Cross.
A volunteer with the Red Cross since February 2018, James showed an extraordinary commitment in ensuring warehouse operations ran smoothly during the COVID-19 pandemic. He also deployed during wildfire season working in the warehouse as well as delivering meals to those affected by the fires.
“James is the embodiment of compassion turned to action,” said Eva Marquez, Volunteer and Youth Services Engagement Manager for the county. “James offers valuable feedback for his teammates and our overall operations to improve services to our community members. James is a true asset to the Red Cross, and we are lucky to have him on our Solano team.”
In addition to the Volunteer of the Year Award, the following awards were also presented to local volunteers at the Red Cross recognition event:
Disaster Cycle Services Award for Extraordinary Commitment and Dedication - Brenda Thomas (Suisun City)
Disaster Cycle Services Award for Leadership - Kathleen Savage (Benicia)
International Services Award - Paula Blackshear (Vallejo)
Teamwork and Collaboration Award - Lynda Hoppenrath (Vallejo)
Good Neighbor and Partnership Award - Vallejo Fire Department
Community Engagement Award - Monica Dunkin (Fairfield)
Other volunteers were celebrated for the large number of hours they devoted to Red Cross service during the 2020 calendar year.
While the annual event spotlights several key volunteers, the event is designed to acknowledge all of the local Red Cross volunteers. “Our dedicated and wonderful volunteers have continued to support the mission of the Red Cross, even during this challenging time of COVID-19,” says Marquez. “Their selfless contributions of time and energy make the work of the Red Cross possible.”
Become a Red Cross Volunteer: You can make a difference in Solano County by becoming a volunteer with the American Red Cross. Volunteers constitute about 90 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 this site.
About the American Red Cross of the North Bay: The American Red Cross of the NorthBay chapter spans the summit of Mount Tamalpais to the bucolic wine country to Travis Air Force Base, providing relief to those impacted by disasters and empowers its residents to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. A volunteer network of more than 500 youth, adults, and seniors combined with community partnerships, local government, and donors ensure the Red Cross will always be there whenever needed. For more information, visit our website here or call us at 1-707-577-7600 to learn more. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter.