The American Red Cross in Nassau County honored 147 volunteers, employed staff and others in appreciation of their humanitarian-minded efforts during ARC/Nassau's 86th annual meeting and awards luncheon. Of these honorees, 130 were singled-out for their tremendous disaster-relief work in the wake of September 11.

Disaster Action Team member Bruce Gould of Plainview, responded to his nation's need after the attacks on the World Trade Center. He organized supplies at the Nassau Chapter and loaded them onto the Emergency Response Vehicles, which were then brought to Ground Zero. Gould spent the next three days loading the vehicles and bringing the supplies to Ground Zero. He stayed on the site until the morning of Saturday September 15. The days that followed he continued to help at the chapter with supplies.

Despite the conditions at the site with dust, debris, sirens sounding and the overall tragedy, Gould said, "It was an unforgettable experience to see the camaraderie of all the rescue workers and volunteers working together as one team, calling each other 'brother' and united in the goal of trying to find any survivors or victims at the site."

Lisa Purzak, also of Plainview, is a volunteer for the Disaster Action Team, Shelter Operations and Family Services. Purzak distributed donated supplies to rescue workers at Ground Zero. Her efforts included shelter operations, where she helped men and women who work in Manhattan and live on Long Island. These people could not return home on September 11. After the events of September 11, Purzak helped them with fundraising efforts for the ARC/Nassau.

With sincere gratitude, the ARC/Nassau recognized Gould and Purzak for their distinguished service during the World Trade Center Disaster on September 11.

ARC/Nassau is a not-for-profit humanitarian service organization that is not a government agency, receives no government funding and relies on the generous donations of others. Please call 747-3500 for more information.