Front row, L to R: Ricardo Chong, ARC/GNY Queens Volunteer Advisory Board; Mr. Met; Gregg Peters, an Elvis impersonator who collects donations for the Red Cross during shows; Dina Guertler, volunteer; Harriet Kupferberg, Red Cross supporter; Tina Lee, Queens Volunteer Advisory Board; Linda Gonzalez, volunteer; George Chang, volunteer; Joan A. Foley, director, ARC/GNY Queens. Back row, L to R: Theresa Bischoff, ARC/GNY CEO; Kathleen Capitulo, Queens Volunteer Advisory Board; Mark Kupferberg, Red Cross supporter; Swaranjit Singh and Charles Menges, Queens Volunteer Advisory Board. (Photo: Allen Salzberg)

Queens-area volunteers from the American Red Cross in Greater New York were honored for their contributions to their neighbors in Queens and to the Red Cross on Monday, September 10 at Shea Stadium before the start of the game between the New York Mets and the Atlanta Braves. The stadium audience viewed a brief film about the Greater New York Chapter’s work with New Yorkers affected by emergencies and disasters. The volunteers were commended for their work helping their fellow New Yorkers in need.

This year, through July 31, volunteers for ARC/GNY - Queens (138-02 Queens Boulevard, Briarwood) have responded to 425 fires and other emergencies and assisted 1,697 adults and children with food, shelter and/or counseling following a disaster. The Red Cross relies on volunteers to help people prepare for emergencies, provide training in lifesaving skills, assist victims of disasters, connect families and lend a helping hand to members of the community.