American Red Cross

Tower Bank recently donated $1,000 to the American Red Cross of Washington County. Pictured are Carmen Fox, left, Eastern Boulevard branch sales manager of Tower Bank, and Julie Barr-Strasburg, executive director of the American Red Cross of Washington County.

In keeping with the area's new Strategic Community Impact Plan, the American Red Cross of Washington County has donated office space at its Conrad Court location to Volunteer Washington County. The Red Cross heeded the call issued in the plan to work collaboratively, announcing the donation on Nov. 16, only two days after community leaders launched the SCIP, according to a news release from the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The American Red Cross is all about volunteers," Executive-Director Julie Barr-Strasburg said in the release.

The Washington County chapter of the American Red Cross kicked off its annual Heroes fundraising campaign Wednesday morning during a breakfast at its headquarters on Conrad Court in Hagerstown. Maria I. Johns, director of financial development for the Red Cross of Washington County, said 21 people pledged to raise $12,716 toward the organization's $30,000 goal. The money will be used to support Red Cross services, including disaster relief, assistance for fire victims, emergency military communications, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and first-aid training.

The Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross held it's 90th Annual Business Meeting and Volunteer Recognition Sept. 5 at Red Cross Headquarters. Presentation of volunteer awards followed the business meeting. The following volunteers earned service pins: Five years, Marie Berry, John Bumbaugh, Guy Greene and William Moser. Ten years, Eugene Creek, John D. Hoover, Richard Humbert, Pat Kinsey, Alan Martin, Connie Pearman, Norman Pearman, Sam Reed, Doris Slayman and Lynn Spalding Jr. Fifteen years, Frank Erck, Elizabeth Lefebure-O'Neil, Joyce Fleming, Ray Lawton, Linda Humbert, Wayne Younker and John Kenney.

HAGERSTOWN -- At Wednesday's third annual luncheon honoring Heroes for the American Red Cross, the agency recognized ordinary people who do extraordinary things so the organization can meet the needs of the people it serves. "We have heroes all around us," said Robert Carder, Red Cross campaign chair. The efforts of those heroes have brought in $28,000 to date in this year's campaign. While the local chapter does respond to national and international disasters, the bulk of the resources are used in response to house fires, Carder said.

Editor's Note: For these 12 days before Christmas we will be recognizing individuals and groups who make the holidays better for others. This is the second in a series. By BRENDAN KIRBY / Staff Writer photo: JOE CROCETTA / staff photographer HALFWAY - Toiling away among a group of women at the American Red Cross gift-wrapping table at Valley Mall recently was a lone man, Charles Newcomer. cont. from front page Newcomer, 69, of Ringgold, has been volunteering as a holiday gift-wrapper since the Washington County chapter started the fund-raising effort six years ago. The number of volunteers has grown from about 160 to more than 700 since then, Newcomer said.

Charlie Newcomer is no stranger to wrapping gifts, having owned and operated R. Bruce Carson Jewelers for 20 years. So it seems quite natural to see the energetic 77-year-old American Red Cross volunteer at the Caring Hands gift wrap station at Valley Mall every holiday season. "I usually set up things on Monday mornings, and then I work on Fridays until about 2 p.m.," Newcomer said. The 15th annual fundraising effort began Nov. 20 and will continue through Christmas Eve. The hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Those who avail themselves of the gift wrapping service are asked to give a donation.

Hagerstown Trust Co. donated $377.90 to the American Red Cross through proceeds collected in March from the bank's self-serve coin-counting machines. Pictured are Mike Mowen of American Red Cross; Barbara Gaver, branch manager of Hagerstown Trust Co.; and Tony Pirrone of American Red Cross.

The Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross held four blood drives Monday. Officials were hoping to collect 115 pints of blood.

Phillip Zirkle, right, donates blood Saturday at the Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross as part of the chapter's Save a Life Saturday. At left is Bonnie Sollenberger of the Red Cross.

 Monday, May 6 - American Red Cross, 1131 Conrad Court, Hagers-town, 1 to 7 p.m.  Monday, May 6 - Lions Center, 310 S. George St., Ranson, W.Va., 1 to 7 p.m.   Monday, May 6 - Fellowship Bible Church, 160 Daniel Road, Shenandoah Junction, W.Va., 1 to 7 p.m.  Wednesday, May 8 - American Red Cross, 1131 Conrad Court, Hagers-town, noon to 6 p.m.   Friday, May 10 - The Living Room, 50 Monroe St., Martinsburg, W.Va., 1 to 7 p.m. ...

Monday, April 1 - American Red Cross, 1131 Conrad Court, Hagers-town, 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 1 - Faith Christian Fellowship, 16726 Lappans Road, Williamsport, 1 to 7 p.m. Monday, April 1 - Rocky Knoll School, 52 Advent Drive, Martinsburg, W.Va., 1 to 7 p.m.  Wednesday, April 3 - American Red Cross, 1131 Conrad Court, Hagerstown, noon to 6 p.m.  Thursday, April 4 - The ARC of Washington County, The Mac McLean Center, 1000 Florida Ave.,...

Carolyn Josephine "Joey" Judd, 80, of Martinsburg, W.Va., died Tuesday, July 10, 2012, at her home. Born April 22, 1932, in Summersville, W.Va., she was the daughter of the late Draper McClung and Carrie (Dodson) McClung. She was a member of St. Joseph Catholic Church, where she served as Eucharistic Minister. Mrs. Judd was a 21-year member of the American Red Cross and served as board president and military liaison (Armed Forces Emergency Services). She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Melissa "Lisa" Jones and Walter Jones III of Big Pool, Md., and Melinda C. and Tracy Snow of Martinsburg; two grandsons, Jordan and Jared; one stepson, Troy G. Judd Jr.; one stepgrandson, Andrew; one sister, Betty Curran Park of Oak Hill, W.Va.; one brother, Daniel McClung and wife, Barbara, of New Orleans; sisters-in-law, Gladys and Sylvia; a number of nieces and nephews; and her lifelong best friend Helen Shallis and her husband Roger Shallis.

Mr. Paul C. Burns, 64, of Waynesboro, Pa., passed away Sunday, June 3, 2012. Born March 17, 1948, in Hagerstown, Md., he was the son of Mrs. U. Catherine (Cartee) Burns of Fairplay, Md., and the late Council Porter Burns. Mr. Burns attended The College of William & Mary and the University of Maryland, majoring in chemical engineering. Since 1974, he was employed as a senior inspector for the Concrete and Cement Reference Laboratory, American Society for Testing and Materials, based in Gaithersburg, Md., and later moving to Frederick, Md. Mr. Burns was a member of Fraternal Order of Eagles 1758, Owls Club Inc. and Joe Stickell American Legion Post 15, all of Waynesboro.

Lester Leo "Gus" Moreland, formerly of Cumberland, Md., passed away Monday, March 26, 2012 at Somerford Assisted Living in Hagerstown, Md. Gus was born April 27, 1919, the son of the late Frank B. Moreland and Regina Griffin Moreland. In addition to his parents, he is preceded in death by six brothers and two sisters, and also his wife, Mary Elizabeth Filler Moreland. Gus entered the U.S. Army in July of 1941, and was honorably discharged in November of 1945. He served in France, Italy, and Germany.

Robert C. Reeve Sr., 56, of Hagerstown died peacefully in his home on Saturday, Jan. 7, 2012. He was born Aug. 11, 1955, in Baltimore, Md., and was the son of the late Dawn E. Angevine Reeve and Donald H. Reeve. He was the loving husband of LuBeth Ridenour Reeve. Bob graduated from Loch Raven Senior High in 1974. He was an accomplished auto mechanic for 27 years in the Baltimore area and retired from State Farm Insurance in 2010. He is survived by his two children, Natalie D. Reeve and Robert C. Reeve Jr., and two grandchildren, Lyla Reeve and Londyn Henry, all of Bel Air, Md. He is also survived by three brothers and a sister and their families, Donald Reeve of Baltimore, Md., David Reeve of Stewardstown, Pa., Claire Duvall of Baltimore and Patrick Reeve of Fallston, Md. Bob adored his family and treasured his friends.

In keeping with the area's new Strategic Community Impact Plan, the American Red Cross of Washington County has donated office space at its Conrad Court location to Volunteer Washington County. The Red Cross heeded the call issued in the plan to work collaboratively, announcing the donation on Nov. 16, only two days after community leaders launched the SCIP, according to a news release from the Hagerstown-Washington County Convention and Visitors Bureau. "The American Red Cross is all about volunteers," Executive-Director Julie Barr-Strasburg said in the release.

A blood drive was held Nov. 16 at Paramount Elementary School. It was sponsored by the American Red Cross, Boy Scout Pack/Troop 103 of the Mason-Dixon Council and the Rotary Club of Long Meadows.

The Washington County Chapter of the American Red Cross held its Volunteer and Donor Recognition event Sept. 22 at Red Cross headquarters.   Cassandra Weaver, chairman, presented the chapter's 2011 Beulah T. Meyers Award for Distinguished Humanitarian Service to Barbara Schnebly. The award was developed to honor one of the chapter's best-remembered Red Cross volunteers who projected the Red Cross image through her extensive Red Cross work.  It was thanks to her efforts that the Red Cross programs were successfully developed and expanded to meet the needs of the community and the future.

Donna Wray (Bartles) Rogers, 56, of Hagerstown, passed away Saturday, Sept. 10, 2011, at NMS Healthcare Center in Hagerstown. Born May 8, 1955, in Hagerstown, she was the daughter of T. Wendy Gardner of Hagerstown and the late Raymond Bartles. Donna was a graduate of Hagerstown Business College and had worked for the city of Hagerstown, was a creative mortgage specialist and worked for Citicorp in their fraud division.   Donna was a former member of the Eagles Club in Hagerstown.