KENTUCKY, NOVEMBER 25, 2025 — In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for thousands of neighbors reeling from disasters across the Commonwealth earlier this year.

In a powerful display of community, over 1,500 volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by back-to-back flooding and tornadoes this spring across Kentucky and Southern Indiana. The Red Cross also distributed more than $2 million in financial assistance, served over 167,000 meals and snacks, and distributed 93,000 emergency relief supplies to over 25,000 households recovering in 2025 from these disasters.

The need for 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. The Kentucky Red Cross responds to an average of 1,200 home fires a year, in which there is an uptick in November and December months.

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Nadine McCrindle, CEO, Red Cross Kentucky Region. “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/KYholiday 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, the Red Cross Kentucky Region:

• Responded to nearly 1,200 home fires with relief, support, and financial assistance.
• Installed over 6,000 free smoke alarms and made nearly 1,500 homes safer with fire safety and home fire preparedness education.
• Held more than 3,700 blood drives resulting in over 87,000 blood products collected to help save lives, including 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.
• Provided over 3,000 services to military members, veterans, and their families.
• Taught more than 44,000 individuals critical skills including first aid/CPR/AED and water safety.

Visit redcross.org/KYholiday for local stories about how people helped 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 Toyota of Louisville, and Louisville Area board member, Dick Swope. This holiday season, they will match dollar for dollar up to $35,0000. 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.