Dear Editor:

What do you call people who consider themselves on-call 24-hours a day, seven days a week including holidays, who get out of bed in the middle of the night to help find a place to sleep for a family whose house has been destroyed by fire? These people respond to thousands of home fires a year — and they don’t get paid a dime for their trouble.

What do you call people who take the time every few months to give away one of the world’s most precious gifts — blood?

What do you call people who show up on a regular schedule to teach strangers how to save a life, and help U.S. service members separated from their families by military duty stay connected — with no monetary compensation?

You call them American Red Cross volunteers. For example, volunteers right here in Gallia County have devoted many hours of service to our community. They have responded to 18 house fires in the last year, taught first aid, CPR, AED, and lifeguard training to numerous individuals, held 59 blood drives and collected 1,172 units of blood. We also have volunteers that hold positions as chapter board and advisory council members.

Nationwide, Red Cross volunteers gave a staggering number of hours of service this year, assisting those individuals in need.

April 15-21 is National Volunteer Week, a time to thank the local residents who serve our community through volunteering with the American Red Cross.

Gallia County needs people from throughout the community, of all ages and skills. To volunteer, please call 740-446-8555 for more information.

Betty Beggrow,

American Red Cross of Southeast Ohio