Red Cross to honour volunteers

By Melissa Bryant
Reporter~SKNVibes.com

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts – THE St. Kitts chapter of the International Red Cross Organisation (SKIRCO) is holding a cocktail to honour 18 of its dedicated volunteers at the local Red Cross headquarters, Horsford Road on Saturday, December 6.

According to SKIRCO Director Natalie Fough, Saturday’s event marks the second time this initiative has been undertaken and it is done against the backdrop of the Red Cross’ International Volunteer Day on December 5.

The organisation is honouring 18 volunteers; 12 of whom are special awardees, one from each of St. Kitts’s five districts and one volunteer who will receive the Koris Woodley Award.

“Koris Woodley was a 17-year-old Red Cross volunteer who died last year. He was instrumental in many of the organisation’s activities and so the award is a way to honour someone within that age range who has also impacted the lives of others,” Fough said. ~~Adz:Right~~

The SKIRCO has maintained a presence in the Federation since 1942 as an offshoot of the British Red Cross. Upon independence in 1983 the SKIRCO was formally established as its own independent branch.

There are currently 250 active volunteers on the roster who participate in several community activities including visiting shut-ins and elderly persons across the island and providing a hot lunch for them twice a week.

The mission of the Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering, to protect life and health and to ensure respect for human beings worldwide.