The Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross, which has been serving Brunswick, Harpswell, and Sagadahoc, Knox, Waldo and Lincoln counties for more than 104 years, held its annual dinner meeting at the Chapter House in Topsham on June 27.

In addition to electing new board members and officers, the Chapter awarded its “Youth Hero” award to Steven Baldwin, age 7, of Nobleboro. The Baldwin family suffered a devastating house fire in January, and it was Steven who initially sounded the alarm and dragged his younger brother Hunter to safety.

Shortly after the blaze, the Nobleboro Fire Chief Ryan Gallagher stated that the fire would likely have had much more tragic results, if not for Steven’s quick action.

In addition to being recognized by the Red Cross, Chief Brian Stockdale of the Topsham Fire Department presented Steven with a certificate honoring him as an Honorary Fire Captain for the Topsham Fire Department.

The Red Cross recently recognized the Pioneer Motel of Edgecomb, for its continued support in providing emergency lodging to disaster clients. Even during the off-season, owner Jim Sauvie has always accommodated the emergency needs of the Red Cross to provide emergency shelter at his motel.

Sauvie has always welcomed disaster clients even when they are bedraggled, dazed and reeking of smoke and given them a safe, warm and dry place to begin again after losing their home to a fire.

Two days after the annual meeting to celebrate our dedicated volunteers, Mid Coast Chapter Disaster Action Team members were again dispatched to a house fire in Dresden. Red Cross volunteers, Nita Tupper of Boothbay Harbor and Andrew Eckman of Bremen, provided emergency vouchers for clothing and food for the displaced resident.

The Dresden fire was the last fire of our fiscal year, but the year was one of for the record books, as there has been a sharp increase in the number of home fires this year. The volunteers of the Mid Coast Chapter have responded to meet the immediate emergency needs of 41 individuals in Lincoln County during the last fiscal year, as compared to only 32 individuals during the fiscal year 2012.

Assistance to disaster clients is provided by the American Red Cross as a gift from the American people and is always provided free of charge. Red Cross volunteers can provide emergency assistance in the form of immediate shelter, food, infant supplies, clothing and the replacement prescription medications to meet the immediate disaster-caused needs of those impacted by a home fire or other disaster.

If you would like to become a Red Cross disaster volunteer, please contact the Mid Coast Chapter of the American Red Cross or you can go to www.redcross.org and click on “Ways to Help” for more information.

You can also help victims of home fires and other disaster victims by making a financial contribution to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donations can be made by sending a check to the Mid Coast Chapter at 16 Community Way in Topsham, ME 04086 or contacting our office by phone at 207-729-6779 x208.