As Holiday Disasters Strike, Red Cross Volunteers Bring Hope

While many celebrate the holidays, American Red Cross volunteers are comforting families coping with the heartbreak of home fires.

Each holiday season, some 40,000 people rely on the Red Cross for support after home fires — which typically spike nearly 20% nationwide in November and December, amid increased fire risks like cooking and heating. 

John Martinez is among the Red Cross volunteers delivering relief. While responding to a home fire on Thanksgiving in Fresno, California, he learned that one of the people they helped was a former Red Cross volunteer in her youth.

“We gave her a quilt in honor of her service. It was an emotional moment for all of us,” said Martinez, a long-time Red Cross volunteer and retired firefighter.

On that same day, Red Cross volunteers in New York were also caring for nearly 100 people staying in shelters after large apartment fires earlier that week in Mount Vernon and Syracuse.

“Where else would you be, right?" said Red Cross volunteer Bob Fitzgerald. “I mean this is part of what I do, it doesn’t matter what the calendar says or what time. You just have to respond, you know this is what I feel is my calling.” 

Today, Red Cross volunteers like Bob continue to help families after home fires around the clock. In Bob’s region of Eastern New York alone, this week’s responses included 20 fires in just four days. Nationally this week, Red Cross volunteers sheltered some 100 people following large multi-family home fires in Illinois, New York and Texas — while also helping neighbors devastated by scores of home fires in single homes across the country.

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How Donations Help People After Disasters

Generous donations make it possible for volunteers to deliver relief, including emergency lodging, emotional support, hygiene supplies and basic health services, such as helping to replace lost or damaged medical items like eyeglasses or prescription medications. 

The Red Cross also provides financial assistance — which can be a lifeline for families’ urgent needs. So far in 2025, the Red Cross has distributed nearly $140 million directly to tens of thousands of households recovering from disasters of all sizes.

María Luz Pintor is among those who received support after an apartment fire displaced her family for weeks this fall in Aurora, Illinois. As a single mother, that meant missing work, facing financial strain and carrying heavy worry.

“Red Cross representatives kindly guided me through what help was available. I felt such relief. I even received financial support — a huge help that I’ll use for next month’s rent,” she said, with tears in her eyes.

As she navigated her own recovery, María began sharing information with her neighbors — many of whom, like her, had no idea the Red Cross offered these services.

“At every moment the volunteers provided moral and emotional support, and that made a big difference given the situation we were in,” she said.

How You Can Help

This holiday season, visit redcross.org/gift to support our lifesaving mission with a financial donation. A gift of any size makes a difference for families in need. You can also volunteer to give the gift of time — or roll up a sleeve to give blood for patients in need.

Learn more about how people cared for each other this year after disasters of all sizes.