NEW JERSEY, December 16, 2022 — 2022 has been a year of crisis for families in New Jersey and around the country — from extreme climate disasters to devastating home fires to the first-ever national American Red Cross blood crisis.

“Whether a crisis is felt by an entire community or a single person, it turns lives upside down — especially for the most vulnerable,” said Rosie Taravella, CEO, American Red Cross New Jersey Region. “We are grateful to have such dedicated, compassionate volunteers who give of themselves to help others. This holiday season, join us to provide help and hope for people in need by making a financial donation or by giving blood or platelets.”

During the holidays, people can visit redcross.org/NJholiday for a Year in Review to learn how the Red Cross helped people in New Jersey in 2022 and make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets for patients in the U.S. Individuals can also register for volunteer opportunities.

RESPONDING TO DISASTERS OF ALL SIZES This year’s extreme disasters in the U.S. are clear examples of the increasing frequency and intensity of the climate crisis. So far in 2022, 15 billion-dollar disasters have upended lives across the country — more than twice the number of billion-dollar disasters that struck annually two decades ago.

For these and other disasters in New Jersey and across the country, Red Cross volunteers have worked 24/7 to provide shelter, food and care — including the more than 60 New Jersey Red Cross volunteers who deployed to Florida to help those affected by Hurricane Ian.

OVERCOMING THE FIRST-EVER RED CROSS BLOOD CRISIS In January 2022, the Red Cross experienced its worst national blood shortage in over a decade due to ongoing collection challenges and varied hospital demand during the pandemic. Patients in need of lifesaving blood transfusions relied on an outpouring of support from hundreds of thousands of generous blood donors, including many who donated in New Jersey, to overcome the crisis.

Beyond national headlines, the need for blood is constant. One in seven patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. As seasonal illness and the threat of winter weather ramp up this holiday season, make a donation appointment and be a lifeline for car accident victims, parents with complicated childbirths, individuals battling cancer and people with sickle cell disease.

Shake up your holiday traditions – make a blood or platelet donation at RedCrossBlood.org. All who come to give December 16-January 2 will receive a long-sleeved Red Cross T-shirt, while supplies last. 

The Red Cross is grateful for corporate partners in New Jersey who contribute to our work. They include Annual Disaster Giving Program Members: Organon and Merck; Blood Saves Lives Partner: Suburban Propane; Disaster Responder Partners: F.M. Kirby Foundation, Prudential and Reckitt; Ready 365 Platinum Members: Daiichi Sankyo, PSEG, Splat Consulting LLC, and Subaru of America; Gold Members: Benjamin Moore, Jonalex, Novartis and Veris Residential; Silver Members: ADP, Campbell Soup Company, Charity Choice Gift Certificate, Lonza, Lord Abbett & Co. LLC, and Wacoal America; Bronze Members: Atlantic City Electric, American Federal Mortgage, BillTrust, Catalent, CentraState Health Care Foundation, Church & Dwight, Franklin Mutual Insurance, Hackensack Meridian Health, Holman, M&T Bank, New Jersey Natural Gas, Peerless Beverage Co., SML Construction, Turtle & Hughes, US Cold Storage, and Wakefern. Thanks to the generosity of these and other supporters, the Red Cross is able to bring help and hope to people in need. To learn more about partnership opportunities, visit redcross.org/NJ.

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.

About the American Red Cross in New Jersey:
The American Red Cross provides programs and services to a population of 9.2 million in New Jersey. The Red Cross trains and mobilizes more than 4,200 volunteers who support the delivery of services throughout the state. In New Jersey last year, the Red Cross responded to 1,012 local disasters, mostly home fires, helping 2,137 displaced families; collected 84,836 blood donations and 9,726 platelet donations from generous donors through blood drives and Red Cross Blood Donation Centers; provided more than 7,271 military family case services with emergency messages, helping families find assistance and/or get counseling and referrals; and trained 87,945 people with life-saving skills in preparedness, CPR, AED use, first aid and aquatics. For more information, please visit redcross.org/NJ and follow us on Twitter @NJRedCross.org.

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