March is Red Cross Month, and we’re asking people to join in the celebration by volunteering, learning lifesaving skills, giving blood or supporting disaster relief on Red Cross Giving Day, March 26.

MARCH EVENTS LISTING

“During Red Cross Month, we are proud to honor our volunteers who provide hope and urgent relief to families in need every day,” said Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “These heroes are our neighbors who give blood, save lives with skills like first aid and CPR, offer support services to our military service members and their families, and provide care and comfort to families devastated by crises like home fires, hurricanes and wildfires. We honor our volunteers and ask you to join them and help make a difference.”

The Red Cross kicked off the celebration onboard the Battleship New Jersey on Sunday, with a ceremony including Camden Mayor Victor G. Carstarphen and Naval Weapons Station Earle Commanding Officer Captain Kent D. Smith, who also fired off a side-gun salute together with Red Cross Regional CEO Rosie Taravella. Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst Air Force Honor Guard helped get the festivities underway with Technical Sergeant Jasmin Echanique singing the National Anthem. Red Cross Outstanding Volunteer Award recipient Linda Kolman of Cape May County raised the Red Cross flag which will fly on the ship all month long.

SEE PHOTOS

During March, several New Jersey locations and landmarks will be illuminated RED to recognize Red Cross Month, including the Battleship New Jersey in Camden, the New Jersey State House dome, American Dream and the Dream Wheel in East Rutherford, Ocean Casino Resort in Atlantic City, and NJM Insurance Group signs at their locations throughout the state.

On Saturday, March 22, we’ll be holding Community Day in Delran from 10 a.m.–3 p.m. at Holy Cross Preparatory Academy. Visitors can learn about Red Cross services like Disaster Response, Blood Donation Services, Service to The Armed Forces, and Lifesaving Skills Training (Hands-Only CPR). The free event joins several community partners together for a day of education and fun for the whole family.

FREE A1C TESTING FOR BLOOD DONORS IN MARCH The Red Cross is helping to bridge access to health care for blood donors by providing free A1C testing, commonly used to screen for diabetes and prediabetes, on all successful blood, platelet and plasma donations in March.

More than 80 years ago, March was first proclaimed Red Cross Month in 1943 by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to raise awareness about the organization and its humanitarian mission. March is designated as Red Cross Month to recognize how the American Red Cross helps people across the country and around the world through its workforce powered by more than 90 percent volunteers.

HOW YOU CAN HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE

• Become a volunteer:  Help families affected by disasters in your community or across the county, welcome donors at blood drives, or assist service members and veterans.
• Give blood:  Make an appointment to donate lifesaving blood or platelets.
• Learn lifesaving skills:  Register for a class to learn first aid, CPR and other skills.
• Make a financial donation:  On March 26—American Red Cross Giving Day—donate at redcross.org/GivingDay, uniting with thousands of people like you to help families during disasters big and small. Your gift can provide hope and urgent relief, like food, shelter and other essentials, for families who need it most.

New Jersey residents can help support the Red Cross while filing their 2024 NJ State Tax Returns. Donations can be made by checking box 75 on the NJ-1040 Form and entering Code 14 for the American Red Cross-NJ Fund.

People can find information about Red Cross Month events, volunteer opportunities, blood donation and other ways to support the work of the Red Cross by visiting redcross.org/NJ.