POTSDAM – The American Red Cross of Northern New York recently recognized two volunteers from its Potsdam office for their outstanding work for and dedication to the mission of the American Red Cross.

Gay Rawlins and Wayne Allen each make significant contributions to help in service delivery and customer satisfaction.

Gay Rawlins has been a Health and Safety volunteer instructor with the chapter since 1957, when she received her Water Safety Instructor certification. Swimming is and has been a very important part of her life. “Watching children learn to swim gives me a sense of joy,” said Ms. Rawlins. Since then, she has taught many swim classes at colleges and schools, as well other community-swim programs. She is also a lifeguarding instructor, a WSI Instructor, and taught first aid as an after school program for many years. Since 1989, she has been teaching CPR and First Aid classes to various groups throughout the community.

Wayne Allen has been a Health and Safety volunteer instructor with the chapter since the early 1960’s. Wayne started teaching CPR/AED and First Aid classes to the community and at SUNY ESF Ranger School. He expanded his instructor certifications into Wilderness and Remote First Aid and First Aid – Responding to Emergencies. In the spring of 2011, Wayne became a Disaster Services volunteer and just recently became a member of our Disaster Action Team, responding to disasters throughout our community.

Although they work in diverse areas of the chapter, Rawlins and Allen share a devotion to their job and an understanding of the importance of what they are doing. They go the “extra mile” to make sure that client, donor and volunteer needs are met in an efficient and satisfactory manner.

Dunkin Donuts sponsors the Volunteer of the Month program by providing the Red Cross with gift cards to present to the chosen volunteers as an expression of appreciation for their efforts. Each month a volunteer is chosen and honored for the work he or she does with the Red Cross.

If interested in volunteering, visit 73 Market St. in Potsdam or 203 N. Hamilton St. in Watertown or by checking the volunteer page of the chapter website: www.redcrossnny.com.