RENO, Nev. (February 26, 2021) — One year since the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic, people have stepped up to address the emotional needs of families reeling from the coronavirus and 2020’s record-breaking disasters.

In Northern Nevada and across the country, trained American Red Cross disaster mental health and spiritual care volunteers have had more than 53,000 conversations to provide emotional support to people in 2020 — which had the greatest number of billion-dollar disasters in a single year. In addition, trained volunteers have provided free crisis counseling through the Red Cross Virtual Family Assistance Center for grieving families during COVID-19.

“The past year has been overwhelming for many in our community, and yet through it all, people are caring for one another,” said Mary Powell, executive director of the American Red Cross of Northern Nevada. “When help can’t wait, they provide families with the support they need during emergencies. During Red Cross Month in March, we honor this humanitarian spirit and ask you to join us by donating, volunteering or taking a class to learn lifesaving skills.”

WHAT IS RED CROSS MONTH For nearly 80 years, U.S. presidents have proclaimed March as Red Cross Month to recognize people giving back through its lifesaving mission — which is powered by more than 90% volunteers.

They include people like Danel Lipparelli, a licensed social worker in Sparks, who volunteers with the Red Cross Northern Nevada Chapter. Since March, 2020, she has worked in the Red Cross nationwide Virtual Familly Assistance Center to provide emotional support, psychological first aid and referrals to community assistance for families coping with COVID.

“We stay with families who have been affected by COVID,” Lipparelli said. “One sister and brother, both in their early 20s, lost both parents. They had no idea what to do next. I was able to help them set up funeral services and walk through the grief process. We try to hold families close.”

A GROWING DESIRE TO GIVE BACK A 2020 study on a rise in volunteer experiences added to LinkedIn profiles shows that more people want to help others during this unprecedented time. Last year, nearly 200 volunteers across northern Nevada worked to support urgent disasters locally and across the country.

HOW TO HELP You can help ensure that families don’t face emergencies alone — especially during a pandemic:

• DONATE: Support our Disaster Relief efforts at redcross.org/GivingDay. A gift of any size makes a difference to provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance. Your donation will be part of our annual Giving Day on March 24 to aid families in need across the country.
• VOLUNTEER: Visit redcross.org/VolunteerToday for most-needed positions and local opportunities.
• LEARN LIFESAVING SKILLS: Take a class in skills like CPR and first aid to help in an emergency at redcross.org/TakeAClass. Online options include our Psychological First Aid for COVID-19 course, which covers how to manage stress and support yourself and others.

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, tag us @RedCrossNevada or visit our pages at FB | LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram.