JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — November 25, 2025 — In 2025, local Red Cross volunteers became a lifeline for thousands of neighbors in north and central Florida facing devastating disasters. And while the Atlantic hurricane season was unusually quiet, other emergencies did not slow down — volunteers helped families through multiple apartment fires, neighborhood flooding, and more than 1,000 single-family home fires across the region.

Nearly 5,000 volunteers responded alongside community partners to provide safe shelter, hot meals, emotional support, and basic health services for families impacted by tornadoes, floods, apartment fires, and home fires.

The Red Cross also distributed direct financial assistance to hundreds of households recovering from disasters of all sizes — including families still rebuilding after Hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The need for these services continues to rise. Nationwide, Red Cross home fire responses increase by nearly 20% during the holidays, when cooking and heating risks are at their peak. In our region alone, more than 1,000 people typically rely on the Red Cross for help after home fires in November and December.

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Christian Smith, CEO, American Red Cross of North & Central Florida. “Thanks to generous donors, we can deliver comfort, hope, and support to families in their darkest moments. Every act of giving helps us bring light back into someone’s life when they need it most.”

This GivingTuesday and throughout the holiday season, community members can support families in need by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation or to give back through volunteering.

Additional Highlights from 2025
 

• Dozens of local volunteers deployed to major disasters across the country — including Typhoon Halong, the Oregon wildfires, Midwest tornadoes, Kentucky flooding, and the Palisades fire. As disasters intensify and become more frequent, families are relying on volunteer responders more than ever.

• Nearly 600 volunteers and staff supported military and veteran communities throughout north and central Florida.

• Nine local residents were honored with National Lifesaving Awards for using Red Cross training — including first aid and CPR — to help save lives.

For more stories of how people across North & Central Florida made a difference in 2025, visit NCFL REGION YEAR-IN-REVIEW.

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 of North and Central Florida
The American Red Cross of North and Central Florida including the U.S. Virgin Islands serves 49 Florida counties through seven chapters: Northeast Florida (Jacksonville), Central Florida Coast (Orlando, Daytona Beach), Capital Area (Tallahassee), Northwest Florida (Pensacola, Panama City), North Central Florida (Gainesville), Tampa Bay; and the Virgin Islands territory of St. Thomas, St. Croix, St. John and Water Island. For more information, please visit redcross.org/NCFL or follow us on social media @RedCrossNCFL.

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. please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media @RedCross.

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