DETROIT (Feb. 13, 2024) – For the seventh year in a row, Michigan taxpayers can support the American Red Cross in Michigan by making a contribution with their 2023 state income tax return. A donation of any size provides hope in times of crisis.

Taxpayers may contribute $5, $10 or an amount of their choosing by completing Form 4642, called the Michigan Voluntary Contributions and Anatomical Gift Donor Registry Schedule, and including it as part of their tax documents. The American Red Cross Michigan Fund is listed first on Page 1 of the form.

On average, 90 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in the humanitarian services it  provides.

“Every single donation makes a difference in someone’s life,” said Mary Lynn Foster, regional chief executive officer for the Red Cross Michigan Region. “These donations help to provide food, shelter, relief supplies and comfort when people need it most.”

The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters a year, and the majority are home fires. In 2023, Red Cross team members and volunteers responded to nearly 2,000 home fires across the state and provided assistance to nearly 7,500 people who were impacted.

Home fires claim seven lives a day in the U.S. but working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half. Since 2014, the Red Cross has been installing free smoke alarms and sharing fire safety information in at-risk communities across the country as part of its Home Fire Campaign. In 2023, Red Cross team members and volunteers installed more than 6,100 smoke alarms in homes throughout Michigan and, in doing so, made 2,451 homes safer.

The Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters than it did 10 years ago due to the  climate crisis. In 2023 alone, the U.S. experienced a record 28 billion-dollar plus disasters, forcing thousands of people to flee their homes from severe storms, floods and wildfires. Michigan experienced severe storms, flooding, power outages, a wildfire and some of its driest summer months. Weather-related events also led to 1,300 blood drives being canceled in 2022, about 23% higher than the average of the prior nine years.  

Here are some ways a contribution will support the important work of the Red Cross:

• $5 Provides five hot cups of coffee, tea, or cocoa, offered by Red Cross workers at shelters or through mobile distribution with emergency response vehicles, in communities impacted by a disaster. These  beverages bring comfort, warmth, and a moment of rest to displaced residents in their time of need.
• $10 Provides disaster preparedness education through programs like Be Red Cross Ready and Hands Only CPR. Being prepared may not prevent a disaster, but it can enhance resilience in communities served by the Red Cross.
• $20 Provides breakfast, lunch and dinner. During  times of disaster, these prepared meals are served by  Red Cross workers at shelters or Red Cross emergency response vehicles driving through neighborhoods. Every effort is taken to provide culturally appropriate  food based on a community’s needs.
• $50 Provides a person with a full day of emergency shelter in the aftermath of a disaster. This includes meals, a cot, blankets and comfort kit.

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MEDIA CONTACT: David Olejarz / david.olejarz@redcross.org / 313-303-0606

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/Michigan or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.