Red Cross thanks local volunteers

To the editor:
    Thank you — I learned these words from my parents when I was very young, but the sentiment never gets old.    Thank you to the people that donated to the Pine Tree Chapter of the American Red Cross. Your gift enables us to provide comfort and compassion throughout the year to our neighbors in need. Last year, the generosity of this Aroostook County community allowed us to:
• Respond to more than 25 home fires;
• Train over 2,200 individuals in life-saving skills such as CPR, first aid, and how to use an automatic emergency defibrillator;
• Train over 300 individuals, including school groups and businesses, in community disaster education — empowering people with the skills and confidence to be ready for disasters and life’s emergencies; and
• Provide 22 emergency messages, referrals, and related services to U.S. service members, veterans and their families through our Armed Forces Emergency Services program.
    The compassion of our donors is turned into these actions by the more than 50 local volunteers who donate over 4,500 hours each year for our Aroostook County Branch office. Nationwide, volunteers make up 97 percent of the American Red Cross workforce.
    We couldn’t keep our promise to help our neighbors without your precious gifts of time, money, and blood. For more information on how these gifts are at work helping people across our community and nation, please visit www.redcross.org.
    Thanks for giving and Happy Thanksgiving to all!
Michael Brown II
disaster volunteer co-leader
Aroostook County Branch
Red Cross-Pine Tree Chapter