“Every minute of every day, there is someone, somewhere in need of help...”

The American Red Cross is where people mobilize to help their neighbors—down the street, across the country and around the world—in emergencies.

The Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the fundamental principles of the International Red Cross Movement, provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Red Cross chapters are the backbone of our local presence. Your support helps us maintain a nationwide network of chapters to provide lifesaving programs and services in communities across the country— so that no one is ever alone in their time of greatest need. The strength and health of our chapters are crucial for the Red Cross as one body to meet the challenges ahead.

You can help ensure that the Red Cross can continue to provide these lifesaving services and has the resources, talent and ability to continue to deliver them by making a donation to support all of the core services of the American Red Cross today.

These vital American Red Cross services must continue...

Helping Prevent Emergencies

The American Red Cross has an aggressive public education strategy both at a national and local level. Every day the Red Cross gives people the knowledge they need to prevent an emergency.

Red Cross safety information relevant to every season of the year and every season of life, from preparing your disaster supplies kit to preventing home fires, is available online and through local chapters.

Teaching Skills that Save Lives

Since offering its first health education program in 1908, the Red Cross has helped millions of Americans save lives. Last year, more than 12 million Americans enrolled in Red Cross first aid, CPR, AED (automated external defibrillator) and disaster preparedness courses, where they received training in the latest lifesaving techniques.

In 2003, the Red Cross introduced Together We Prepare—a program that addresses the threat of terrorism and empowers people to take charge of their own safety and security by teaching them to prevent and prepare for emergencies of all kinds.

Protecting America’s Blood Supply

Many recent advances in modern medicine would not have been possible without a safe and available supply of blood.

As the steward of half the nation’s blood supply, the Red Cross considers safe and constant availability of blood one of its highest priorities.

To fulfill that duty, the organization must collect, screen, process, test, transport and monitor approximately 22,000 blood donations daily. The American Red Cross sets the highest standards of quality improvement in each of these areas.

The Red Cross must continue to ensure the future of the nation’s blood supply. A new generation of donors must be recruited, and blood-processing techniques must stay ahead of the emerging diseases that could pose a danger to recipients.

Responding to Disasters

Since its founding, the Red Cross has provided aid and comfort to families touched by disasters all over the world.

The disaster environment now includes terrorism on a scale never before seen. As a result the Red Cross has launched a grassroots initiative that stresses prevention and readiness education to families, schools and businesses.

When a disaster strikes, the Red Cross responds immediately, without regard to cost. This requires ongoing training for employees and volunteers, sophisticated technology and equipment, and the purchase of food and shelter for families and volunteers.

In order to respond to disaster-caused needs, whenever and where ever they arise, the Red Cross must have resources in reserve. Whether those affected suffer a house fire in a Maryland neighborhood, a tornado in Arkansas or wildfires in California, they need help that is prompt and effective.

The Red Cross in your Community

Our local chapters are on the front lines in your community every day. They are teaching first aid, CPR and AED classes, training volunteers and responding to local disasters.

Our nationwide network also provides the resources and manpower when there is a large-scale disaster, like a hurricane.