News Summary:

• As forecasters warn of elevated spring storm, flood and wildfire risks nationwide, the American Red Cross urges people to donate on the organization’s Giving Day, March 25, to help ensure families don’t face disasters alone.
• So far this year, thousands of families nationwide have relied on Red Cross volunteers after disasters of all kinds. In January alone, following severe winter storms across nearly a dozen states, volunteers provided 30% more meals and snacks than during the same period last year — when the Red Cross responded to record wildfires in Los Angeles.
• People can visit redcross.org/givingday to donate to Disaster Relief and help people affected by disasters big and small, whenever and wherever they occur across the country. 

CENTRAL CALIFORNIA, MARCH 25, 2026 — This spring, families across the country and here in Central California may suddenly find themselves needing a safe place to sleep, a warm meal, and help replacing essentials lost in minutes. Severe and volatile weather is common this time of year, with heightened flood risks from coast to coast and wildfire threats in drought-stricken communities from the Southwest to the Southeast. You can help ensure families don’t face disasters alone on Red Cross Giving Day, March 25, by supporting Disaster Relief at redcross.org/givingday. 

Thanks to the generosity of our donors, Red Cross volunteers are ready to respond when help can’t wait.

A Season of Fast Moving, Devastating Weather 

In January, severe winter storms forced families across multiple states to turn to the Red Cross for support, and that month alone, the organization provided more meals and snacks than during the previous January’s record-breaking wildfires in Los Angeles. In February, more than 100 shelters were opened across the country for families displaced by winter storms stretching from California to the Northeast, alongside extensive flooding on the West Coast and wildfires across the Plains. Currently, more than 500 Red Cross disaster workers have been responding around the clock this month to deliver immediate relief to people affected by flash floods in Hawaii, tornadoes in the central U.S., severe storms in the East and wildfires in Nebraska — in addition to daily home fires nationwide. In fact, home fires account for most of the more than 60,000 disasters that the Red Cross responds to every year.

Volunteers across Central California have answered the call to help here at home and across the country. Local volunteers have also provided comfort and hope to 444 people after more than 100 home fires across the region since 2026 began. 
 
How Giving Day Donations Help 
By donating now, before an emergency strikes, your donation helps ensure the Red Cross can:

• Stock warehouses with urgently needed relief supplies
• Train volunteers in advance so they can respond immediately
• Maintain ready vehicles, logistics systems and equipment
• Set up shelters quickly in pre‑identified, safe locations
• Make sure families aren’t facing their first difficult hours alone

 
A gift of any size makes a difference. For example, a donation of $20 can provide a day of meals for someone devastated by a disaster.

“When we arrive at the scene of a fire, we’re often meeting people on one of the hardest days of their lives. They may have lost their home, their belongings, or their sense of safety in a matter of minutes. In those moments, the Red Cross becomes more than an organization. We become a source of stability, comfort and hope," said Javier Gonzalez, Disaster Action Team volunteer.

 Please donate to Disaster Relief at redcross.org/givingday. A gift of any size truly makes a difference. If you’re unable to give financially, you can support the Red Cross mission by volunteering or donating blood. 

Blood Donations Are Needed Now More Than Ever 

This year’s severe weather has caused thousands of blood donations to go uncollected. Donors in unaffected areas make it possible for the Red Cross to continue meeting patient needs. 
 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.