LEWISTON – The Central and Mid Coast Maine Chapter of the American Red Crosswill honor community members who go above and beyond in service to others on Tuesday, March 5, at the 16th Annual Real Heroes Award Breakfast.
“We salute these Real Heroes whose extraordinary courage, kindness and unselfish character help people in need and benefit their communities. They embody the humanitarian spirit that is at the heart of the American Red Cross,” said Johanna Lloyd, chairwoman of the Real Heroes Committee and a member of the Chapter Board of Directors. “We have an amazing group of Real Heroes with stories that will move you. Please join us in celebrating them at this inspiring community event.”
The Real Heroes Awards Breakfast will be from 7:30 to 9 a.m. at the Ramada Inn, 490 Pleasant St.
The 2019 Real Heroes of Central and Mid Coast Maine are:
First Responder Award: Adam Salve of Durham. Salve, an Auburn firefighter trained in water rescue, saved a 9-year-old boy who had gone into the Androscoggin River to help his younger brother after he had fallen into the fast-moving water. Salve went into the river and, with the assistance of other first responders searching the water from shore, found the older boy. Salve put the boy into a canoe that was following him as he searched and got him back to shore so he could receive medical attention.
Blood Services Award: Jack Schrader of Manchester. Schrader has been a dedicated blood donor since 1965. His brother was serving in Vietnam at the time, and Jack saw blood donation as a way to give back to the community. He has donated more than 123 times – more than 14 gallons of blood.
Public Services Award: Gail Hart of Harpswell. Hart is emergency medical services chief of Harpswell Neck Fire Rescue – a volunteer role to which she has devoted several thousands of hours of her time. A retired kindergarten teacher, she became an EMT when she saw the need in her community and later took the role of chief. She has grown the ranks of the volunteers on her team and continues to respond to calls herself. Her other community service includes leading the Santa fund in town, being a hospice volunteer and serving on the town’s
Fire Rescue Planning Committee, which is charged with strategic planning.
CPR Saves Lives Award: Gary Croteau of Auburn. Croteau was on Taylor Pond last winter to ice fish with a family friend. They were using an auger to drill a hole when the friend collapsed and appeared to be choking. When he stopped breathing, Croteau, who has no formal CPR training, started performing chest compressions and rescue breathing on him. After several rescue breaths, the friend began breathing on his own. Paramedics arrived soon after and took him to the hospital.
Community Youth Award: Kayden Boilard of Lewiston. Kayden is a fifth-grader who started a food pantry to help neighbors in need. With her parents, she delivers care packages to people’s homes, runs a food cupboard and a free library and distributes other needed items like diapers and clothes. They first ran the food pantry out of their home and as the operation grew, found a larger space. It was struck by fire shortly before the planned grand opening, but Kayden kept moving forward. Now the food pantry is slated to open in a different space this month.
Lifesaving Award: Andrew Banow of Rockport. Banow was on the Rockland Fish Pier when he saw someone in the water where lobsterman Gary Kenney had been on his boat earlier. A fast-moving boat had created a wave that knocked Kenney into the water. His heavy wet clothes and boots pulled him down and he was unable to get himself into his skiff. Banow got into the skiff of the fishing vessel he was working on, went out to Kenney and pulled him aboard.
Community Service Award: Bob Bauman and Hollie Vanderzee, of Harspwell. Bauman and Vanderzee are a married couple and leaders of Harpswell Aging at Home, which aims to foster low- or no-cost initiatives that help older adults age in place. Bauman, chair of the Home Repairs Committee, leads volunteers who have worked on more than 60 homes since September 2016 to keep their income-eligible residents safer, warmer and drier. As chair of the Communications Committee, Vanderzee leads efforts to get the word out about the Home Repairs program and other services of Harpswell Aging at Home.
Service to the Armed Forces Award: Dean Paterson of Freeport. Paterson works with Brunswick-based Embrace A Vet, which serves veterans and families living with post-traumatic stress and traumatic brain injury. She is a board member, a wellness coach for veteran and caregiver retreats and the volunteer coordinator for the caregiver peer support program. The caregivers who nominated her praise Paterson for her compassion, effectiveness in providing resources and support, advocacy and commitment to veteran families.
For more information or to buy tickets, visit www.redcross.org.
