A Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteer shares a plush to bring comfort to a child whose family has just suffered a devastating home fire.
TAMPA, Fla. January 31, 2020 – With the frequency of severe disasters on the rise, hundreds of thousands of people in 2019 turned to the American Red Cross for support. The Red Cross of Central Florida was there to help, providing trained and compassionate volunteers who respond both close to home and across the country.
“Every day, our team members -- staff and volunteers -- strive to ensure the Red Cross is ready to bring care, comfort and hope to those affected by emergencies,” said Eric Corliss, Regional CEO of the Red Cross of Central Florida who joined the regional team earlier this year.
Powered by our network of dedicated volunteers, generous donors and steadfast partners, the Red Cross of Central Florida served thousands of local families across our 19-county area. Here is a snapshot of the wide variety of work done in 2019 through local Red Cross chapters:
Meanwhile, the Red Cross continues to work with its partners to prevent fire tragedies through its lifesaving Home Fire Campaign, which nationally installed its 2 millionth free smoke alarm in 2019. In Central Florida, there are several notable numbers:·
**Figures represent services from January 1-December 31, 2019. Numbers do not include larger-scale responses like Hurricane Dorian or tornados.
Help people in need by making a financial donation at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). The Red Cross also relies upon the power of volunteers to fulfill its mission. Become a volunteer today at redcross.org/volunteer.
WITH APPRECIATION Generous donations from Florida businesses and organizations enable the American Red Cross of Central Florida to respond when disasters occur and help families during the recovery process. With tremendous gratitude, we acknowledge our Ready 365 Giving Circle members who helped meet this year’s extraordinary needs: Circle K, Publix, Darden Restaurants, Raymond James, the New York Yankees (Tampa Yankees Foundation), Legoland, Bealls, Hilton Grand Vacations, Mosaic, The Spurlino Family Foundation, Tijuana Flatts, Space Coast Credit Union, iQor, The Mabel & Ellsworth Simmons Charitable Foundation, Inc., Rooms to Go, Spectrum, Universal Studios Foundation, Lockheed Martin, OUC, Arbitration Forums, Bloomin’ Brands, Massey, Syniverse, Joe and Sarah Galloway Foundation, Oracle and Margaritaville.
The Central Florida Region of the American Red Cross serves 19 counties through five chapters: Florida’s Space Coast (Daytona Beach), Greater Orlando, Mid-Florida (Winter Haven), Southwest Florida (Sarasota) and Tampa Bay. For more information, visit redcross.org/centralflorida. Also find us on Facebook and Twitter.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.