Helping others has been a lifelong vocation for Terry Ream. As the owner of five Sand City businesses, including Disaster Kleenup Specialists and Ream Construction, Ream and his employees provide assistance to those who have been affected by fires, storms, floods, biohazard emergencies and many other types of incidents, both large and small.
The mission of Terry Ream and the Disaster Kleenup Specialists and Ream Construction staff is to help people who have suffered a loss restore their homes or businesses quickly, so that they can begin living their lives normally. In times of crisis, they are there to help rebuild homes and lives, and so it was a natural decision for Terry to become involved with the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, an organization which shares the same mission – to provide assistance to people in their times of need.
A lifelong resident of the Central Coast, Terry and his wife Theresa, have been active with many community charities, including the American Red Cross. They have always believed it is important to dedicate your time and talent wherever you can to help others, and so in 2004, Terry became a Board Member for the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the American Red Cross, a position which he held for seven years. During that time, Terry brought the resources of his companies, which also include Floor Store USA, Cypress Cabinets, and Excel Carpet and Upholstery Cleaning, to provide assistance to the Red Cross and its initiatives, in the form of fundraising efforts and volunteerism.
Terry has shared his passion for the Red Cross with his employees, and many of them have also become involved with the Red Cross. Terry and his staff have enjoyed volunteering their time for many Red Cross events, including the Salinas Air Show, Holiday Cards for Heroes, Gift Wrapping for Measels, and the annual Carmel By the Sea Parade.
“We really enjoy being a part of the Red Cross events. It gives us an opportunity to raise money for the Monterey Bay Area Chapter of the Red Cross and its many important initiatives, and gives us a chance to personally give back to our community, “ Terry says. “I am extremely proud of my staff for all that they have done and the time that they and their families have given to support the Red Cross.”
His employees are grateful for the opportunities they have had to volunteer with the Red Cross. Ream Construction Project Manager, Richard Gilson, and Ream Construction Superintendant Brian White, along with their wives, donated their time to the Red Cross to collect signatures for Christmas Cards for America’s Soldiers serving in Afghanistan and Iraq this past November. “This was a very moving experience for me,” Gilson said of the event. “It was incredible to see the outpouring of love from our community to our soldiers, and I felt humbled to be a part of it.”
Although Terry Ream recently retired from his Board of Directors position, he is still extremely active with the Monterey Bay Area Chapter. He especially enjoys volunteering for the Salinas Airshow, where he and his employees assist with gate security, an effort which raises thousands of dollars each year for the Red Cross. This fall, he was proud to have his daughter, Amanda Ream, and future son-in-law Cody Crumpton, volunteering alongside him at the airshow, and he is looking forward to 2012’s volunteer opportunities which begin April 14th. If you, too, would like to participate in 2012, contact Daniella Zapata at (831) 624-6921 or Daniella.Zapata@redcross.org