NEW JERSEY, December 1, 2025 — In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for thousands of neighbors reeling from disasters in New Jersey.

In a powerful display of community, American Red Cross New Jersey Region volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by flooding, wildfires and more than 1,000 home fires in the state. The Red Cross also distributed financial assistance directly to thousands households recovering in 2025 from disasters of all sizes in New Jersey.

The need for this 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.

“When people’s lives are upended by home fires and other disasters, it’s thanks to generous donations that our volunteers have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover,” said Kim Goetz, interim regional executive, American Red Cross New Jersey. Goetz continued,

_{“Through the simple act of giving, we come together as a community to help our neighbors when it’s needed most.”}

This GivingTuesday and holiday season, visit redcross.org/NJ 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: How Local Volunteers Helped Disaster Survivors, Hospital Patients and Military Families

• NJ disaster volunteers delivered aid for major disasters across the country, including wildfires in California, tornadoes in Missouri and Arkansas, and flooding in Texas and Kentucky. Responding to disasters is a team effort, and as they become more frequent and intense, families are relying on volunteers for support.
• More than 105,000 blood and 4,900 platelet donations collected helped save lives in New Jersey and across the country, 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.
• Service to the Armed Forces volunteers and staff supported military and veteran communities on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and NWS Earle, as well as veterans memorial homes throughout New Jersey.

Visit the Red Cross New Jersey Region YEAR-IN-REVIEW Webpage for more information about how people from New Jersey 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 Supporters: 

The Red Cross New Jersey Region is deeply grateful for the generous support of corporate and foundation partners across New Jersey who contribute annually. These include Annual Disaster Giving Program Members: Merck, Suburban Propane, and the Zoetis Foundation; Disaster Responder Members: American Water Charitable Foundation, F. M. Kirby Foundation, Prudential, and Reckitt; and Ready 365 Members: Platinum Plus Member: Novartis Foundation; Platinum Members: PSEG Foundation, Splat Consulting LLC, and Subaru of America; Gold Members: Benjamin Moore, Brother International, Daiichi Sankyo, and Haleon; Silver Members: Campbell’s, Holman, Kyowa Kirin, Lonza, Lord Abbett & Co. LLC, Sanofi, Veris Residential, and Verisk; and Bronze Members: Church & Dwight, Franklin Mutual Insurance, Genmab, Hackensack Meridian Health, Inspira Health, New Jersey Natural Gas, South Jersey Industries, State Farm, 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 every day. Learn more about partnership opportunities.

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.

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 5,500 volunteers who support the delivery of services throughout the state. In New Jersey last year, the Red Cross responded to 1,052 local disasters, mostly home fires, assisting 7,019 people in 2,681 displaced families; collected 105,255 blood donations and 4,902 platelet donations from generous donors through blood drives and Red Cross Blood Donation Centers; provided more than 10,000 military family case services with emergency messages, helping families find assistance and/or get counseling and referrals; and trained 117,106 people with life-saving skills in CPR, AED use, first aid and aquatics. For more information, please visit redcross.org/NJ.

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