LONG BEACH, February 8, 2010 — The Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross announces the December Volunteers of the Month the VA Hospital Red Cross Volunteers.

This group of 36 Red Cross volunteers, Chris Allen, Lee Arrington, Betty Jane (BJ) Bergstrom, Jo Bracken, Rhonda Caldwell, Jeshanah Chapman , Alex Eastly, Gloria Del Rio, Angela Diaz, Ray DiEsposti, Len Fields, Kathy Fudim, Michael Fudim, Danielle Fulcher, Ruth Hall, Rae Harris, Steven Holmes, Debi Karm, Kerissa Kelly-Slatten, Adele Lamberth, Mary Ann Loya, Alejandro Martinez, Angela Massie, Sal Mazella, Peggy McCranie, Jutta Moreno, Vada Nelson, Issac Oshana, Maria Palos, Lucy Perrie, Mac Pullee, Claire Reay, Martha Rodriguez, Juni Segovia, Julie Seng, and Alma Shewell, give their time and energy to our veterans through the American Red Cross office at the Long Beach Veterans Administration Healthcare center.

Most of the volunteers come in at least once a week and several of them come in three days per week. Together these volunteers work a total of 600 hours per month. They help 1,200 veterans every month by delivering over 3,000 comfort items to them. We serve inpatient, outpatient, and homeless veterans. They go about their tasks with joy and enthusiasm bring these gifts of spirit to the veterans they serve. Each month the chapter recognizes a volunteer or volunteers who show exemplary service to the local Red Cross and the nine communities served the Long Beach chapter. For more information regarding volunteering at the American Red Cross, Greater Long Beach Chapter, 562-595-6341 ext 261.

The Greater Long Beach Chapter of the American Red Cross serves the communities of Artesia, Bellflower, Catalina Island, Cerritos, Hawaiian Gardens, Lakewood, Long Beach, Paramount and Signal Hill and is ready to respond at a moment’s notice when help is needed. Red Cross volunteers make it possible to provide disaster relief, serve the military and their families, enable youth to learn leadership skills, train others in Red Cross fundamentals, and teach life saving CPR and First Aid. The Greater Long Beach Chapter is a United Way Partner in Bridging the Gap in the communities it serves.