Red Cross leaders and volunteers pose in the Legislative Office Building
in Albany, New York at Advocacy Day 2025.
By: Stephen Bogdan
In January, nearly 50 individuals from the American Red Cross, including staff, volunteers, and leaders from all three regions of New York State, gathered for our yearly Advocacy Day in Albany, New York.
Red Crossers engaged with more than 100 legislators and their staff to explain the services we provide to their constituents. For an organization that has been supporting neighbors in need for more than 140 years, this was a great opportunity to strengthen already robust relationships with experienced legislators while building new relationships with more recent arrivals — promoting an open dialogue and fostering collaboration with leaders from throughout the state.
The corridor between the Capitol Building and the Legislative Office Building was converted into a striking exhibit of the Red Cross services available to New Yorkers. Staff and volunteers manned tables with information about training services, blood donations, and disaster services. As part of our Services to the Armed Forces program, visitors had the chance to sign a card for veterans who receive care in a New York State Veterans Administration hospital.
In addition, the Red Cross hosted its annual Legislator of the Year ceremony, which recognizes state legislators who are great partners in delivering the Red Cross mission. The 2025 Legislators of the Year are Assemblywoman Marianne Buttenschon, Assemblyman William “Bill” Conrad III, State Senator Monica R. Martinez, State Senator Jessica Scarcella-Spanton and State Senator Bill Weber. To learn more about these important elected partners to the Red Cross, read here.
THE IMPACT OF THE RED CROSS ON NEW YORK COMMUNITIES
The Red Cross's committed staff and volunteers play an important role in helping New York state residents, whether by responding to disaster scenes, organizing and staffing blood drives and special events, or managing phone calls and preparing mailings. The need for Red Cross services is constant — not a day goes by without New Yorkers in need of help, whether aid in the wake of home fires, life-saving blood, or an at-risk veteran or their family. Additionally, there is an increasing need for the Red Cross to respond to weather-related disasters, from tornadoes to blizzards to flooding after rainstorms.
Every day, the Red Cross responds to around 10 disasters across New York state at the request of local, state and federal emergency management. Home fires are the most common of these disasters but there are many other emergency scenarios that can force people from their homes, such as floods, heavy wind, or snow and ice storms. The Red Cross provides emergency relief supplies, food, shelter, financial assistance, emotional support and behavioral health services after a disaster.
In 2024 we helped with severe weather, snowstorms and multi-family home fires in all three parts of the state. Our teams were there to support residents impacted both by a water main break in the Bronx, tornadoes in Oneida County, and disasters big and small throughout the state.
In addition, the Red Cross has a statutory duty, codified in state law, to serve on the New York State Disaster Preparedness Commission. This means that the Red Cross in New York State plays a formal role in the state's disaster preparedness and response efforts during a declared state of emergency.
2025 represents the 10th anniversary of our Home Fire Campaign, which sets the goal of reducing the frequency and impact of home fires.
Over these ten years, the Home Fire Campaign has helped:
During the most recent fiscal year, Red Cross staff and volunteers in New York State also helped:
Thank you to all who participated in the 2025 New York State Advocacy Day.
Support all the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross.
Find a drive and schedule a blood donation appointment today.
Your time and talent can make a real difference in people’s lives. Discover the role that's right for you and join us today!
