Media Contact: Martin Gagliano
Telephone: (510)368-8320
martin.gagliano@redcross.org

This holiday season, donate financially or give blood to help those facing future crises

SANTA ROSA (Calif.) December 1, 2022 — 2022 has been a year of crisis for families in the North Bay Chapter and around the world — from extreme climate disasters to global emergencies like the conflict in Ukraine to the first-ever national American Red Cross blood crisis.

“When disaster strikes, the Red Cross is ready to provide comfort and hope to affected communities and individuals, making sure no one faces challenging times alone,” Ken Toren, Interim Executive Director for the Red Cross North Bay Chapter, said. “This holiday season, join us to help people in need by making a financial donation, volunteering or giving blood”. 

During the holidays, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelet for patients in the U.S. Individuals can also register for volunteer opportunities in their area.
 

RESPONDING TO DISASTERS OF ALL SIZES This year’s extreme disasters in the U.S. are clear examples of the increasing frequency and intensity of the climate crisis. So far in 2022, 15 billion-dollar disasters have upended lives across the country — more than twice the number of billion-dollar disasters that struck annually two decades ago.

For these and tens of thousands of other disasters in the North Bay Chapter and across the country, Red Cross volunteers have worked 24/7 to provide shelter, food and care — including providing relief and comfort following 110 home fires and other local disasters within the North Bay Chapter since January 2022, to help ensure no one faces a crisis of any size alone. Dozens of local volunteers also deployed to help those affected by disasters across the country over the past year, like Hurricanes Ian and Fiona.

HELPING FAMILIES AFFECTED BY GLOBAL EMERGENCIES Internationally, the conflict in Ukraine has forced millions of people to flee for their lives. With such vast needs, the American Red Cross has provided financial donations and international crisis responders to support the global Red Cross network’s response on the ground, which spans more than a dozen neighboring countries to deliver food, shelter, medical care, emotional support and other critical aid for displaced families.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has also provided financial support to the ongoing hunger crisis in Africa. Overall this year, as part of the world’s largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross provided humanitarian aid in more than 108 countries. Here in the North Bay Chapter, Red Cross international efforts including opening several Restoring Family Links cases, to reunite families separated by war, crisis or forced migration, and educating hundreds of participants on International Humanitarian Law.

OVERCOMING THE FIRST-EVER RED CROSS BLOOD CRISIS In January 2022, the Red Cross experienced its worst national blood shortage in over a decade, due to ongoing collection challenges and varied hospital demand during the pandemic. Patients in need of lifesaving blood transfusions relied on an outpouring of support from hundreds of thousands of generous blood donors to overcome the crisis.

Beyond national headlines, the need for blood is constant, as one in seven patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. Every day, Red Cross blood donors are the lifeline for car accident victims, parents with complicated childbirths, individuals battling cancer and people with sickle cell disease. Make an appointment to give blood this holiday season by visiting RedCrossBlood.org

PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCIES In the North Bay Chapter, Red Cross workers have helped people through other personal emergencies too, whether it was connecting a loved one with a deployed service member during a family crisis or training people to provide CPR for those suffering from cardiac arrest. In 2022, the North Bay Chapter provided 801 case services for military members, veterans and their families, and educated 11,009 people in First Aid/CPR/AED courses.

Visit the local Year in Review page for more information about how the Red Cross helped people of North Bay Area Chapter in 2022.

About the American Red Cross of the North Bay 

With local offices in Napa, Sonoma, Marin and Solano Counties, 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, visit our website at  redcross.org/northbay or call us at (707) 577-7600. You may also find us on Facebook and Twitter

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