News Briefs

+ American Red Cross thanks volunteers
The American Red Cross celebrated its volunteers during a Volunteer Celebration April 26, at the Southwest Florida Chapter Headquarters in Sarasota.

More than 140 volunteers, who provide disaster relief, health and safety training and other support services, attended the event.

“Volunteers are the power behind our mission,” said Megarie van Sickel, CEO for the Southwest Florida chapter. “At 2 a.m. when most of us are sleeping, it is the Red Cross volunteer who is standing on the lawn of someone who just lost their home and personal belongings to a fire. Our volunteers are providing comfort and the immediate food, shelter, and clothing victims of disasters need most. We are extremely proud of our trained and passionate team and are thrilled to have this opportunity to show our appreciation.”

+ Trunk show benefits FELTS
Feeding Empty Little Tummies, a program that provides food to needy children on weekends through a backpack program, got a financial boost May 1 from a special trunk sale in the East County.

Organizer DeeDee Derenne, of Deecouture, who makes recycled clothing, also invited two more artisans to participate in the event — Kelley Love, who makes jewelry from recycled items, and Natasha Joffers, who turns recycled T-shirts into scarves and headbands.

The event was hosted at Wingate by Wyndham hotel, which not only provided space for the event, but also home-baked cookies and cold drinks for shoppers.

+ East County youth, singer partner for event
Braden River Elementary School student Sara McCurry and Palm-Aire resident and opera singer Randy Locke joined forces with other musicians in the “Ben & I Play for Peace” event, April 22, at Peg Madill Recital Hall inside Piano Distributors in Sarasota.

The event was one of three benefit concerts held nationwide to help 14-year-old guitarist and philanthropist Benjamin Werdegar raise money for children in Iraq who need wheelchairs.

The event raised more than $1,000 for Wheelchairs for Iraqi Kids, a division of Reach Out and Care Wheels and the Wounded Warrior Project.

Other musicians who participated in the event include pianist Joyce Valentine, pianist Lurray Myers and soprano Martha Lopez-Leschke, who also was the director of “Ben & I Play for Peace.”

Several students from the State College of Florida also performed, as did a dance group from PURE Sarasota.