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[NEW YORK CITY, DECEMBER 1, 2025] — In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for thousands of neighbors reeling from disasters in the Greater New York area.

In a powerful display of community, over 160 local Greater New York volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by flooding, partial building collapses and hundreds of home fires. The Red Cross also distributed more than $2 million in financial assistance directly to thousands of households recovering in 2025 from disasters of all sizes in the Greater New York region.

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. Just in New York City, more than 1,300 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires in a typical November and December each year.

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Doreen Thomann-Howe, Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross in Greater New York. “Thanks to generous donations, they have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover. Through these simple acts of giving, we come together as a community to bring light to a family’s darkest days — right when it’s needed most.”

This GivingTuesday and holiday season, visit redcross.org 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 Responders Helped Disaster Survivors and Hospital Patients

• 65 local volunteers delivered aid for major disasters across the country, including the Los Angeles wildfires, storms in Kentucky and Indiana and devastating flooding in Central Texas. Responding to disasters is a team effort, and as they become more frequent and intense, families are relying on volunteers for support.
• Nearly 10,000 local blood and platelet donors helped save lives in the Greater New York region 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.
   

Visit www.redcross.org/GNYEndofYear for stories about how people from Greater New York 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 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.