SAN FRANCISCO, NOVEMBER 24, 2025 — In 2025, local volunteers from the Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region became a lifeline for hundreds of neighbors reeling from disasters across 15 counties within the region to distribute over $1 million in financial assistance. In a powerful display of community, volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by hundreds of home fires.

The need for this support shows no sign of slowing down. In the U.S., Red Cross home fire responses spike nearly 20% during the holidays, when families face increased fire risks such as cooking and heating. Just in our region, over 600 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires in a typical November and December.

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Regional Chief Development Officer, Amy Currin. “Thanks to generous donations, they have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover. Through these simple acts of giving, we come together as a community to bring light to a family’s darkest days — right when it’s needed most.”

This Giving Tuesday and holiday season, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or to give back through volunteering. You can also make an appointment to give blood or platelets. The need for blood is constant — and just like disasters, medical emergencies don’t take holidays.

Also in 2025: How Local Volunteers and Donors Helped Disaster Survivors, Hospital Patients and Military Families. Visit our local Year-in-Review for stories about how people from the San Francisco Bay Area, Monterey Bay Area, and San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Merced counties helped in 2025.

• Over 240 local volunteers delivered aid for major disasters across the country, including the Los Angeles wildfires that erupted in January 2025. Kelsey Marasigan’s deployment “wasn’t just about the logistics of providing shelter and food; it was about the human connection, the empathy, the unwavering support offered during a time of unimaginable loss. It was about restoring hope, one conversation, one act of kindness, at a time.”

• Over 51,000 local blood donors and 6,000 local platelet donors helped save lives in our region and across the country, including people facing life-threatening conditions like sickle cell disease, childbirth complications, traumatic injuries and cancer, like baby Roger. “Blood and platelets saved my son’s [Roger’s] life,” Sophia says, “proof that blood donations save lives.”
• Over 5,300 volunteer hours have been contributed towards supporting military and veteran communities in our region, including the time of three volunteer flight surgeons, Dan Canlas, M.D., retired Lt. Col. of the U.S. Air Force, James “Eric” Bermudez, M.D. and Justin Nast, M.D., who’ve contributed their time and medical expertise at the David Grant Medical Center flight medicine clinic, treating the aircrew and other military members involved in flying missions.
• Four individuals in our region were honored with a National Red Cross Lifesaving Award for helping to save lives with Red Cross skills such as first aid and CPR. Among them was Richard Castellon, an off-duty police officer with the Monterey Police Department who saved a stranger’s life after performing CPR. “We’re extremely proud to present a Certificate of Merit to Richard,” said Michele Averill, CEO of the Red Cross Central Coast Chapter. “His exceptional actions demonstrate the power of human kindness, and the impact one person can have in the world.”

About GivingTuesday:

GivingTuesday is an annual event dedicated to boosting radical generosity, held on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Created in 2012 at New York’s 92nd Street Y, the idea behind GivingTuesday was to set aside a single day to give back. Over 13 years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to donate, volunteer and spread awareness. For many nonprofits, funds raised on GivingTuesday serve as an important kickoff for year-end charitable campaigns.

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.