When Jonathan Fowler and his mother, Hulene Woody, evacuated the Ortega Oaks RV Park and Campground due to the Airport Fire, they found safety and comfort at an American Red Cross shelter. “We don’t know what we would have done without you,” said Hulene.

On January 22, 2024, storms brought heavy rain and flooding to San Diego County. Severe flooding forced many residents in Southeast San Diego to evacuate their homes. The Red Cross worked alongside partners for weeks to provide care to those in need.

At the Disaster Training Academy, Red Cross volunteers and staff came together for a weekend of learning, team building, emergency response vehicle training and more. The academy helped prepare local volunteers to be ready to respond to future disasters.

Smoke alarms save lives! During signature Sound the Alarm events in March and April, Red Cross volunteers and community partners installed 2,136 smoke alarms, served 2,340 residents and made 835 homes safer in Southern California.

Gincy Heins joined the Red Cross with one thing in mind: help service members and their families. “The first time I was able to comfort a mom with the words, ‘I’m also an Air Force mom,’ I knew I was volunteering with the right organization," she says.

When Major Taylor Sivley began noticing his Ft. Irwin community’s need for CPR classes and a lack of class accessibility, he stepped into action. He worked with the Red Cross to bring this vital lifesaving training to Ft. Irwin.

Susan Hess drives lifesaving blood to local hospitals as a Red Cross Blood Transportation Specialist volunteer. She encourages others to get involved. “It’s a great opportunity to give something back to your community," she says.

Rick Krukowski’s life changed forever when he got into a vehicle accident on the freeway. After recovering from many injuries, he dedicated his life to giving back through volunteering and donating lifesaving blood with the Red Cross.

Chula Vista Fire Captain Dangkhoa Nguyen was a committed blood donor until being diagnosed with leukemia, when he found himself on the receiving end of platelet donations. His yearly blood drive encourages others to give blood and platelets.

When Ana Roberts participated in a Red Cross CPR, AED and First Aid Class, she learned the importance of being trained. "I encourage you to prepare yourself with the training you need so that you, too, will be prepared to help save a life," she says.

Youth volunteers from the Red Cross Southern California Region attended GLOW (Growing Leaders of the World) Red, a four-day annual summer camp that takes an interactive approach to building leadership and teamwork skills and fostering character growth.

Jaelynn Nguyen thinks of herself as an average teenager, but she is also making an amazing impact as a Red Cross youth volunteer in Orange County. "Seeing the impact that we can have on each other is what makes me want to stay," she says.