Southern California, November 26, 2025 — In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for hundreds of neighbors reeling from disasters like home fires, wildfires and more across the Red Cross Southern California Region, which serves San Diego, Imperial, Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.

In a powerful display of community, 168 local Southern California Red Cross volunteers deployed alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by disasters here in Southern California and across the country. These volunteers helped after home fires, wildfires, hurricanes and more. Locally, the Red Cross also distributed over $800,000 in financial assistance directly to hundreds of households in the region which includes San Diego, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, and Imperial Counties recovering in 2025 from disasters of all sizes.

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. In Southern California, about 750 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires in a typical November and December alone. 

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Southern California Region Sean Mahoney. “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 GivingTuesday 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 Responders Helped Disaster Survivors, Hospital Patients and Military Families
 

• Local volunteers delivered aid for major disasters across the country — and right here in Southern California. Responding to disasters is a team effort, and as they become more frequent and intense, families are relying on volunteers for support.
• Over 167,000 local blood and platelet donors helped save lives for patients here in Southern California and across the country, including helping people facing life-threatening conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, childbirth complications and traumatic injuries. Patients rely on a consistent blood supply to survive and heal — and it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.
• Over 250 local volunteers and staff with Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces supported our military and veteran communities through emergency communications services, Reconnection Workshops, pre- and post-deployment briefs, VA hospital welfare and morale programs and more.
• 10 extraordinary Southern Californians were honored with a National Lifesaving Award for rendering aid during emergencies and helping to save lives with Red Cross skills like first aid and CPR. Read a few of their stories online.
   

Visit redcross.org/SoCal for more stories about how Red Cross volunteers in Southern California helped neighbors in need in 2025. 

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 Our Regional Holiday Supporters: 

The Red Cross is grateful for corporate partners who contribute to our Holiday Campaign. They include regional partners Alliant, Kia America, Pacific Life Foundation and Sungrow. Thanks to the generosity of these and other supporters, the Red Cross is able to bring help and hope to people in need.

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.

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