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Red Cross volunteer an inspiration

DEBORAH SAYER

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Staff Writer

Mohamed Ahmed of Lewiston has recently received Lewiston's VIBE Award for outstanding volunteerism -- largely because of his attention to detail and his willingness to do anything for the United Valley Red Cross agency in Lewiston, which serves Androscoggin, Kennebec, Oxford, Franklin and Somerset counties.

VIBE is an acronym for Volunteers Inspire By Example, and that's what Ahmed has done since arriving in Lewiston in 2007.

''(Ahmed) is an instrumental part of our office support staff, ensuring that our files are up to date and making himself available to respond to various needs,'' said Red Cross emergency services director Eric Lynes, who nominated Ahmed for the award. ''He fulfills the definition of this award. He leads by example and inspires others by what he does.''

Lynes said that from the first day, Ahmed's work went beyond the office to the community as a whole.

''Within 10 minutes of walking through our door, we got a call about a major fire at an eight-unit apartment building on Holland Street, where 30 people were displaced,'' Lynes said.

''We threw a vest on (Ahmed), and he went right into action, providing blankets for people who were cold and setting up cots on the sidewalk.''

Lynes said Ahmed's past has been difficult.

''He's seen some extraordinary acts of violence,'' Lynes said. ''He fled his country, Somalia, to Ethiopia with bullets literally flying past his head. He resided in different refugee camps there and saw the Red Cross in action providing various levels of international service, the likes of which I've not experienced in this country.''

Ahmed was sponsored to come to America in 2002 by an uncle living in Hartford, Conn. Ahmed has a bachelor's degree in chemistry and a background as a bloodwork laboratory technician, but when he applied for a job at a local hospital, he was told that his college credentials were not recognized in the United States.

He then relocated to Lewiston, where the cost of living was more affordable and there was a growing community of Somali immigrants.

Ahmed volunteers 25 to 30 hours a month doing data entry at the United Valley office and other assignments as needed.

He also delivers news from his homeland to local Somali and Sudanese residents through the Red Cross' International Tracing Service.

Those unsealed messages are gathered by Red Cross workers from various African refugee camps, offering news of surviving family members and updates on their well-being. Those messages are passed on through the organization's Restoring Family Links project.

''The International Committee of the Red Cross in Washington, D.C., collects the messages and distributes those in each state,'' said Ahmed. ''When those come through Eric's office, I deliver them to the families they belong to and also gather information to be returned to their loved ones. I also read the letters for those who are unable to do read. It's a good feeling.''

VIBE awards are presented monthly by Lewiston Mayor Laurent Gilbert Sr.

''He's a wonderful person who cares about the community he lives in and volunteers his time to serve as an example to others,'' Gilbert said of Ahmed.

Ahmed said the award serves as a reminder to ''complete my mission to help people who are displaced and educate them about services that are available to them. We all need help. If you're doing better, be an example. Do something good for others.''

Staff Writer Deborah Sayer can be contacted at 791-6308 or at:

dsayer@pressherald.com