WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Dec. 2, 2019) — Following a year of disasters affecting thousands of people in the South Florida Region and across the country, the American Red Cross asks everyone to help provide relief and comfort on Giving Tuesday by donating at redcross.org/gift.

“Every eight minutes, someone affected by a disaster in our country turns to the Red Cross for support,” said Joanne Nowlin, chief executive officer for the South Florida Red Cross. “When people’s lives are upended by home fires, and other crises, your support through our Holiday Campaign can provide necessities like emergency shelter, hot meals and blankets.”

FAMILIES FACE DISASTERS EVERY DAY This year, Red Cross volunteers have been by the sides of families affected by large events like wildfires in California, Hurricane Dorian on the East Coast, tropical storm flooding in Texas, and tornadoes and floods in the Midwest. On average, the Red Cross responds to a new major disaster every 14 days in the U.S. — on top of responding each year to tens of thousands of smaller disasters like home fires, which account for most of the 62,000-plus disasters that the Red Cross responds to annually across the country.

This year, the South Florida Red Cross deployed nearly 200 volunteers to respond to major disasters such as Hurricanes Barry and Dorian, the floods in the Midwest and the shooting in Dayton, Ohio. In addition, Red Cross volunteers across South Florida Region also responded to more than 550 home fires, helping over 2,400 people address their urgent needs like lodging, food and emotional support.

HOW TO HELP ON #GIVINGTUESDAY People can #GiveWithMeaning on Giving Tuesday (December 3) and throughout the holiday season by donating at redcross.org/gift:

• Help disaster victims: A gift of $50 can deliver hot meals for five people or provide blankets for 10 people after a disaster, or a larger donation of $100 can provide a family of two with a full day’s worth of emergency shelter, including meals, snacks, blankets, cots and hygiene supplies.
• Help military members and veterans: Meanwhile, a donation of $50 can help connect veterans and their families to critical community services, such as food, housing, mental health support and rehabilitation. A larger gift of $145 can provide hospital kits, filled with toiletries and other essentials, for 20 service members.
• Help save lives internationally: People can also help save lives through our work with the Measles & Rubella Initiative, which provides vaccinations for children and educates families about the dangers of measles and rubella. A gift of $100 can help provide lifesaving vaccinations for 100 children facing an increased risk of measles and rubella around the world.

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/southflorida or visit us on Facebook and Twitter at @SFLRedCross.

###