Fiscal Year 2008 was yet another rewarding year for the Frederick E. Turnage Chapter. It was a year of change as the Chapter changed from the Twin Rivers Chapter to the Frederick E. Turnage Chapter of the American Red Cross. The year was challenging also in that the Chapter became a Regonal Chapter in July 2007 and began working in this capacity with 8 other Red Cross Chapters in Eastern North Carolina.
The year continued the trend of increased demand for services as the Turnage Chapter responsded to over 140 single family disasters, trained over 5,000 people in Health and Safety Courses, collected over 10,000 pints of blood and communicated over 230 emergency messages for Armed Forces personnel from the surrounding communities.
Please follow this link to view the full 2008 Turnage Chapter Annual Report..
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The Frederick E. Turnage Chapter of the
American Red Cross held its Annual Meeting for volunteers, donors and Board Members Wednesday evening at the Chapter offices at 326 S. Franklin Street. During the meeting
American Red Cross Regional Executive Lynwood Roberson provided a statistical review for the year. From the period July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008 the
American Red Cross Frederick E. Turnage Chapter responded to 140 single family disasters serving 488 individuals; the Chapter trained 4,557 individuals in life saving CPR and First Aid; assisted in collecting 11,792 pints of blood which served 35,376 individuals; and provided 255 emergency messages for local families with members serving in the Armed Forces.
One of the features of the Annual Meeting is the recognition of volunteers by presenting Volunteer of the Year awards for each line of service, the overall Volunteer of the Year Award and Board Member of the Year. The Ruby Powell Blood Services Volunteer of the Year award was presented to
Roger Townley ; the Harrell Parker Emergency Services Volunteer of the Year was presented to Terry Edwards; the Becky Flynn Health and Safety Volunteer of the Year Award was presented to Jenny Willis; the Pete Armstrong Board Member of the Year was presented to Buckley Strandberg; and the Rosalie Lemieux Volunteer of the Year award was presented to
Joyce Page .
The highlight and most touching moment of the meeting was when Roberson presented the Chapter’s Humanitarian Life Saver Award. The honoree was Jeff Sherrod, a former Nash County Sheriff’s Deputy and current Loss Prevention Officer with Lowe’s of
Wilson . Jeff witnessed an accident in December of 2007. Seven year old Makayla Maloney was severely injured in the accident. In need of immediate attention, Jeff began performing CPR on Makayla. When paramedics arrived, they asked Jeff to drive the ambulance so they could focus their attention on Makayla.
The majority of individuals with injuries such as Makayla’s never make it to the hospital. Because of Jeff’s immediate action, Makayla made it. She not only made it to the hospital, she kept fighting for her life when Doctors provided little hope. Though at first she struggled to breathe, she began moving her limbs. Doctors had to provide sedatives because Makayla fought so hard to live.
Makayla went through Cervical Fusion surgery and extensive rehab, a process that would challenge the strongest of individuals. Makayla faced it all and on Wednesday, July 30, 2008, without a dry eye in the room, she walked into the Frederick E. Turnage Chapter of the
American Red Cross and presented Jeff his award. Through the entire ordeal, Jeff only asked Makayla for one thing. When she was out of the hospital he wanted a kiss on the cheek. That kiss was given to him Wednesday night.
It was a very special moment on a very special night. As the evening was about to end, Jeff mentioned that it was time for him to renew his CPR certification. He discussed the importance of being trained and able to respond. The
American Red Cross encourages everyone to take a life-saving CPR course so you too can respond when the next Makayla needs you.
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Story and Photos by Dave Knoer, American Red Cross
Sunday, June 22, 2008 — Rosemeree Johnson escaped the waters that poured into her home with nothing but the wet clothes she was wearing. Four days later, she’s beginning to rebuild her life.
On June 15, torrential rains were already threatening Johnson’s home in Mason City. “My daughter came by to help me with the sump pump in my basement and we saw and heard the water rushing towards us as the levy broke,” Johnson said, her voice cracking at the memory.
“I left with nothing: No purse, no prescriptions, no pictures. Nothing! We had to walk two blocks with water past our knees, just to get to her car.”
Johnson is staying with her daughter, but the experience left her emotional, not knowing where to turn. Her home of 40 years is destroyed.
“Yesterday I was crying over (the loss of a favorite) spatula. It’s amazing what you think of afterwards,” she said. “And then there was a knock at the door. It was the Red Cross. It was wonderful.”
Lynn Carol, a trained disaster mental health counselor and volunteer from the King and Kitsap Counties Chapter of the Red Cross in Washington state, was part of a Roving Outreach Team that visited Johnson. Along with emotional support, the team was able to give Johnson the means to get an emergency refill of her medications, clothing and other essentials.
“It’s a relief for my kids that the Red Cross is here. I have six kids, but they most all live so far away,” Johnson said, relieved that after talking with the Red Cross team members, she had a better idea of how to move forward.
As flood waters have subsided, Roving Outreach Teams have been going door-to-door in the hardest-hit parts of Mason City and more than a dozen other Iowa towns, taking compassion right to the people who need it most. In the first four days, they had served more than 400 individuals and families.
For Mason City residents Evy and Dean Buser, the Red Cross visit was more precious than gold: It meant “somebody cares, somebody cares” Buser said, tears welling in his eyes.
“My neighbor called me and said, ‘Get home!’ By the time I arrived, there was over a foot of water in my garage,” Buser recalled. “My basement was already full and water was already rising up into the house.”
Red Cross volunteers Mickey and Jackie Bailey from Rocky Mount, North Carolina sat down the Busers after the waters drained away and helped them figure out what they needed immediately and what to do next.
Talking with the flood victims has been a powerful experience for Jackie Bailey, on her first major disaster with the Red Cross.
Six days into the operation, “we helped a single mom of three kids. All their belongings were piled outside and destroyed,” she said. “The mom broke down and said she can finally buy her daughter a bed.” The idea that the child didn’t even have a bed to sleep in made the devastation – and the impact of the Red Cross human touch – vivid for Bailey.
“This is what it’s all about, helping others who need it most.”
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On Wednes, June 4, 2008 from 5-7:30 p.m. the Frederick E. Turnage Chapter to the American Red Cross will host a Business After Hours with the Rocky Mount Chamber of Commerce. The highligh of the event will be the Turnage Chapter's Building Dedication Ceremony in honor of an anonymous donor and their significant contribution to the Turnage Chapter's building campaign. "We will honor our donor on June 4th for their contribution to our building campaign, but we will also honor them for their many years of similar contributions to the greater Rocky Mount community" stated Regional Executive Lynwood Roberson. "Once the honor is bestowed and the individuals name made public, it will hopefully be a fitting tribute for these individuals and a lasting mark of our appreciation for all they have done for this community."
The evening will be an excellent opportunity for the Rocky Mount community to learn more about the Frederick E. Turnage Chapter and its many services. Food will be provided by Outback Steakhouse and beverages will be available as well. For more information, contact the Turnage Chapter at 252-977-1720.
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Two ERV's from the
American Red Cross Frederick E. Turnage Chapter in Rocky Mount, NC and staff from the
American Red Cross Chapters in Martin and
Pitt
Counties responded to the tornado in
Lewiston, NC early today. Volunteers and staff met with families at the Lewiston-Woodville Fire Department, who found 5 homes destroyed and 10 with major damage. The Red Cross provided food and water and distributed financial assistance. Several homes are still without electricity and one person remains in the hospital in
Pitt
County from injuries.
Telly Faison from the Lewiston-Woodville Fire & Rescue Department was one of the first responders to the disaster yesterday. "We found trees on top of houses. We went door-to-door to check on people in the area, and closed roads to be sure no one crossed down power lines or downed trees."
American Red Cross Regional Executive Lynwood Roberson said, "Devastation in the four neighborhoods in the area is extensive. We're fortunate to have a small number of injuries. Red Cross staff and volunteers have provided aid and comfort to the families affected in a tremendous compassionate manner. We will have volunteers on site at
Mount
Olive
Baptist
Church tomorrow to assist any other families with client case work, financial assistance who come forward. I would like to thank the citizens and businesses of the Edgecombe, Martin and
Bertie
County communities for their generosity during this difficult time."
Special thanks to the businesses who acted quickly to help the affected families and emergency workers. Sara Lee in Tarboro provided pastries for the emergency workers and affected families this morning. Wal-Mart in Ahoskie donated a palate of bottled water, canned goods, paper goods, and snacks. The Wal-Mart in Williamston also donated water and non-perishable goods. The Burger King in Windsor donated hamburgers and cheeseburgers for tonight's dinner, served in addition to food and shelter provided by the
Mount
Olive
Baptist
Church in
Lewiston . To make a financial donation to support these families, please send it to the Frederick E. Turnage Chapter, 326 S. Franklin St., Rocky Mount, NC
27804 and designate for the
Bertie
County tornado disaster, call (252) 977-1720 or make an online donation on our secure site at www.twinriversredcross.org. and designate for the Bertie County tornado disaster, call (252) 977-1720 or make an online donation on our secure site at .
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The Twin Rivers Chapter of the American Red Cross presented an award to former Mayor Fred Turnage. At the First Annual HEROES Banquet, the Chapter bestowed the HERO Award upon the long time Mayor of Rocky Mount. The Red Cross chapter also announced it was officially changing its name to the Frederick E. Turnage Chapter of the American Red Cross.
It's a fitting tribute to the mayor whose 34 years in office might be best-known for his leadership in the aftermath of the 1999 flood.
Turnage also is credited with helping the Red Cross get its first local headquarters on North Church Street. Now the chapter is moving into a new building on Franklin Street – again, with Turnage's help. The chapter held the banquet on March 17 to raise money for the move.
The Red Cross was another symbol of hope during a time of darkness. Considering the financial challenges that the chapter has dealt with over the years, the organization's move into a new location is an encouraging sign that the heroic volunteers and invaluable work of the Red Cross will not leave Rocky Mount anytime soon.
The fundraiser was the chapter's first Heroes Banquet, the naming of which could not be more appropriate.
There are fewer organizations and politicians more notable than the Red Cross and Fred Turnage.
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