By MARIA KACIK

Staff Writer

MEDINA — For about 90 years, Medina County had two separate Red Cross units: the Medina County chapter of the Red Cross and the Wadsworth Red Cross.

At the beginning of this month, however, the two merged.

Both chapters formed in 1917. In 2005, the Wadsworth Red Cross went from being its own chapter to a certified service delivery unit under the leadership of the Summit County chapter.

“It means that they no longer had their own board of directors. They functioned under the auspices of the Summit County chapter,” explained Beth Kilchenman, executive director of the Medina County chapter. “The decisions that were made about the Wadsworth Red Cross would be made by the Summit County board of directors.”

Recently, however, the National Red Cross decided certified service delivery units no longer could exist and would have to officially align with official chapters of the Red Cross.

“There was some rethinking by the Summit County board of directors and our board of directors that it made much more sense for (the Wadsworth Red Cross) to be part of Medina County,” Kilchenman explained. As of July 1, the Wadsworth Red Cross officially became part of the Medina County chapter.

In August, the Wadsworth office of the Red Cross will close. Cherie Sonnenberg, director of the office, will join the Medina County chapter staff as special projects manager.

Kilchenman said the alignment will make it easier for the Red Cross to work with local service provider partners in the county, such as the Medina County Health Department, police and fire associations and United Way of Medina County.

“It’s really helpful when Red Cross can speak with one voice,” she said.

But she noted Wadsworth will not be ignored as far as service goes.

“We’re hoping that instead there will even be more attention paid to Wadsworth,” she said.

Kacik may be reached at 330-721-4049 or mkacik@ohio.net.