By AUTUMN MIHM, Director of Communications

 

The Greater Pamlico Area Chapter of the American Red Cross proudly honors local volunteer, Blackhawk Fornelli, as he celebrates his 40th year of volunteer service with the Red Cross.

“We would like to thank Blackhawk for his outstanding service and continued commitment to the American Red Cross,” said Bill Brent, CEO for the Eastern NC Region of the American Red Cross. “Because of volunteers like Blackhawk, the Red Cross is able to fulfill our humanitarian mission and serve the people of our community in the face of emergencies.”

Fornelli currently serves as a dispatcher for the Red Cross disaster action team, which responds to local disasters, the majority of which are home fires. When Red Cross assistance is requested for a fire in Beaufort, Hyde, Tyrrell, or Washington counties, Fornelli coordinates the volunteers who will respond to the call.

“We rely on local volunteers who know the community to help respond to daily disasters like home fires as well as large disasters like severe storms and hurricanes,” said Brent.

Fornelli is in charge of maintaining the Red Cross disaster response vehicles so they are current with inspections, repairs, and supplies, and can be used to respond at any time, to emergencies throughout the community. He has also worked on disaster responses all across the country and served in a number of roles including: emergency response vehicle (ERV) driver, bulk distribution, mass care feeding and sheltering, and disaster assessment.

About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.