Published: June 24, 2008 11:43 pm         

Red Cross honors its own during picnic event

Danny Salladay had only been a volunteer for the Red Cross a few days when he got his feet wet.

Salladay told officials of Cimarron Valley Chapter of American Red Cross he wanted to volunteer, but he didn’t expect to be called on so soon, or for so long. Salladay was asked to go to Watonga after storms blew through Blaine County in August 2007.

Power lines were down and high water prevented many people from getting to their homes. Salladay went to Watonga and was in charge of the daily meals served at St. Rose Catholic Church. He stayed 23 days without a break before he came home. Salladay lived in a Watonga motel and at Roman Nose State Park.

Each day he would serve 2,600 meals to storm victims.

“I felt good about it because I was helping other human beings. That’s what I volunteered for, I volunteered for disaster team,” he said. “I was beginning to wonder if I would come home. I thought I’d be there for a while.”

For his efforts, Salladay was named Red Cross Disaster Volunteer of the Year at the annual Red Cross Volunteer Awards picnic Tuesday.

He served people from Watonga, Geary and other county towns, along with several members of the Arapaho tribe.

“Everyone was nice. They were super people and grateful for a hot meal,” Salladay said.

Cimarron Valley Chapter’s other big award, Volunteer of the Year, also was presented Tuesday.

Kathi Black put in between 600 and 700 hours during the Red Cross fiscal year, which starts in July.

Cimarron Valley Executive Director Robin Unruh said Black also is a revenue source by teaching aquatic classes and working with Boy Scouts.

Black would not take all the credit, saying her staff of four people at Denny Price Family YMCA helped with the classes and other activities. Black has volunteered for Red Cross for about 15 years and was elected an honorary board member Tuesday.

“The Red Cross goes along with my job. There are more kids. I love working with the kids, teaching swimming and lifeguard classes. Later on, they can work for me,” she said.

Unruh and assistant executive Michael Pokorny also gave out a number of other awards to volunteers and partners in Enid.

Nicholas Craft was elected president of the Cimarron Valley board of directors for the 2008-09 year.