Monnie Romines of Saluda, SC, was awarded the Elizabeth Poat Award, the highest local award given to a volunteer at the American Red Cross chapter level.

　　It is awarded to a long-term volunteer for creativity and service in a number of capacities in the chapter.

　　Monnie Romines spends almost every day living the mission of the American Red Cross and telling the great story of our organization. She started her volunteer career as a Board Member of the Red Cross, and her commitment to the mission has continued with an ever increasing zeal. Eager to roll up her sleeves, Monnie became a trained Disaster Volunteer and is an extremely active member of the Disaster Action Team, taking call and responding to disasters whenever she is needed.

　　But her story doesn’t end there. Monnie is an avid fundraiser and community activist. Over the past five years, she initiated and established the Saluda Auction Fundraiser for the Red Cross as a well-anticipated community-wide event. Monnie also holds numerous other smaller fundraisers throughout the year such as her much sought after Cookout and many other fund and friend raising events.

　　Through Monnie’s enthusiasm, we have a growing core of Red Cross volunteers and supporters in Saluda County. In fact Monnie’s commitment to the Red Cross is so strong that one year, on the day of the Saluda Auction, which she chairs every year, she responded to a fire in the early morning hours as part of the Disaster Team and later that day, she seamlessly Chaired the Auction. Piece of Cake!

　　Monnie loves to share the Red Cross story with people and in addition to her Disaster Team work, she raises almost $10,000 each year for the Red Cross work in Saluda County.

　　Monnie Romines always has a positive attitude, excellent leadership skills and is always willing to give of her time and talents. She was awarded the Elizabeth Poat Award at the 2010 Annual Meeting of the American Red Cross of Central South Carolina on June 23, 2010.

　　Dixie Bell Farms in Ward, SC, showed enormous compassion for their hungry neighbors and generosity and donated over 105,000 pounds of peaches in June to Harvest Hope Food Bank in Columbia to aid in their ongoing hunger relief efforts.

　　During June Dixie Bell donated three loads of farm-fresh peaches to Harvest Hope, providing quantities of 39,600, 36,000 and 30,030 for a total of 105,630 pounds. The fresh peaches were immediately processed through the Harvest Hope warehouse and provided to hungry individuals and families across Harvest Hope’s 20-county service area.

　　"We are grateful to the generosity of Dixie Bell and other South Carolina farmers for their generosity and their commitment to feeding their neighbors in need," said Harvest Hope Chief Operating Officer Chris Daly. "Without the partnership of local family farms and businesses Harvest Hope would not be able to fulfill our mission of feeding the hungry in South Carolina.

　　"Farmers have and often suffer from natural disasters such as hail, freeze and drought," said Jimmy Forrest, owner of Dixie Belle Peaches, Inc. "So I can relate to those who suffer from acts beyond their control. I'm just blessed that we can help."