Red Cross Presents Several Starke County Entities With Awards

The Red Cross presented several awards to a number of Starke County organizations, businesses, and churches for their outstanding achievements and volunteer services during their annual recognition dinner at the Fort Wayne Marriott. This year’s theme of “Saving Lives by the Numbers” highlighted the many ways in which lives can be saved and how many those lives can affect.

The First-Time Sponsor Award was presented to Bethlehem Baptist Church for hosting their first American Red Cross blood drive during the last year.

Doretta Hoppe of North Judson was presented with two awards, including the Outstanding Blood Donor Award and the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award. The Outstanding Blood Donor Award highlighted her combination of high donation frequency and high lifetime donations, while the Outstanding Volunteer Service Award recognized her dedication to serving the community at blood drives, donation centers, and local Red Cross chapters.

St. Peter Lutheran Church was presented with the Faithful Friends Award, which recognizes those sponsors who are always willing to open their doors when the Red Cross is in need of a facility.

The City of Knox earned the Lifesaver Award, which recognizes blood drive sponsors and coordinators who replaced drives that were cancelled, demonstrated flexibility when asked to sponsor a drive on short notice, accommodated unexpected scheduling changes, and still met or exceeded their goal.

IU Health Starke Hospital was nominated for the Hospital Partnership Award for helping to ensure a safe and continuous blood supply by supporting blood collections and forming special partnerships with the Red Cross Indiana-Ohio Blood Services Region. The hospital hosts two blood drives each year and actively promotes the drives by hanging posters throughout the facility, advertising it on their marquis and sending emails to employees.