LEWISTON -- Nearly 30 years ago, Lucy Ingraham moved to Maine. She immediately started giving back to the community as an American Red Cross volunteer. And she never stopped. 

This year, the Maine Region of the Red Cross is recognizing Ingraham for her dedication and many contributions with the statewide George Kotuby Award for Extraordinary Service. The award recognizes lifelong volunteer service that has significantly furthered the Red Cross mission of preventing and alleviating human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. 

“Lucy inspires us all with her readiness to do whatever she can to further the Red Cross mission. Whatever the role – and there have been many over the past three decades – she serves with dedication, effective leadership and great strength of purpose,” said Patricia Murtagh, CEO of the Maine Region of the American Red Cross. “‘Do good, Be Kind’ is what I think of when I think of Lucy Ingraham.”

Ingraham, a Phippsburg resent who serves on the Central and Mid Coast Chapter’s board of directors, has served in numerous capacities, including volunteer chair, disaster services volunteer, shelter manager, armed forces emergency caseworker, blood drive volunteer and representative to state, regional and national Red Cross bodies and conventions.

Ingraham was presented the award at the Chapter’s annual dinner that took place on June 16 in Lewiston.  

Two other Chapter members were honored that evening for their distinguished service.

Johanna Lloyd is the recipient of the Chapter’s Volunteer Leadership Award and Fred Brann is the recipient of the Chapter’s Special Citation for Exceptional Volunteer Service.

“Both of these extraordinary Red Crossers are go-getters – the ones who jump in with both feet when something needs to be done,” said April Caron, executive director of the Chapter. “You can see it in the way Johanna keeps things on track and does so with laugher, encouragement and compassion. You see it in Fred’s selfless service to others and in his natural talent as a leader and mentor, no matter what the task.” 

Lloyd joined the Chapter’s Lewiston Real Heroes Breakfast Committee in 2012 and has been its chair or co-chair in the years that followed. Brann, a Red Cross volunteer since the 1990s, has led health and safety training, including CPR and first aid certification for Brunswick High School sophomores, been a longtime blood donor and serves as facilities manager for the Topsham office.

The Chapter’s territory covers Oxford, Franklin, Kennebec, Androscoggin, Sagadahoc, Lincoln, Knox and Waldo counties and the Cumberland County towns of Brunswick and Harpswell. Its offices are located in Topsham and Lewiston.