1917

March 12: Charter granted to the Wake County Chapter of the American Red Cross signed by President Woodrow Wilson. During those days, volunteers rolled bandages, made bed shirts for hospitalized soldiers at Camp Polk and provided canteen service for troop trains, feeding stations and the soldiers' Bath House near the railroad station in Raleigh.

1941

During World War II, the Red Cross provided layettes for newborn babies of servicemen and comfort kids. Social workers also verified home conditions for service personnel.

1969

Poe Family donates land in Raleigh to the Red Cross (current Triangle Chapter building). 

1973

Triangle Chapter house at 100 N. Peartree Lane in Raleigh is completed and dedicated. 

1973

Wake County Red Cross serves as sponsoring agency for Meals on Wheels with meals transported in Red Cross vans from Wake Hospital to Hillyer Memorial Christian Church.

1988

The chapter suffers the worst disaster to affect Wake County, the November Tornado, that left a 9-county area in panic and destruction.

1996

Hurrican Fran marked the largest local operation for the Triangle Area Chapter in 8 years.

1999

Hurricane Floyd devastates eastern North Carolina; National disaster relief efforts initially coordinated from the Chapter and continued for the next two years.

2005

Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma brought suffering to people in an area larger than North and South Carolina combined. In total, the American Red Cross provided financial assistance to more than 1.4 million families or approximately 4 million people; provided 3.8 million overnight stays in 1400 shelters and served more than 68 million meals and snacks.

2005

September 2005: The Triangle Area Chapter provided financial assistance (food, lodging, new clothing, medications, rent, deposits and mental health support) to more than 1,100 families that came to the Raleigh area.

2007

June 2007: The Triangle Area Chapter is appointed Regional Chapter to work in collaboration with neighboring chapters Central North Carolina, Moore and Orange Counties.

2011

April 2011: The largest tornado outbreak in state history that swept across central and eastern North Carolina. One of 29 tornadoes that touched down that day left a path of destruction throughout Raleigh. The outbreak destroyed and damaged thousands of homes and businesses in 30 counties. Our Region assisted 581 families, provided 1459 nights of shelter, and more than $506,000 in direct financial assistance to affected families.

2012

October 2012: Superstorm Sandy was a massive storm that caused a tremendous amount of destruction. The Triangle Region deployed more than 60 disaster workers and multiple Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs).

2016

October 2016: Hurricane Matthew’s high winds and torrential rains battered the U.S. along the Eastern Seaboard. After the hurricane passed, swollen rivers across the Carolinas caused devastating flooding that inundated homes and communities for over a week. The Red Cross of Eastern North Carolina opened 109 shelters, provided more than 35,000 overnight stays, and delivered over 800,000 meals/snacks.

2017

June 2017: This year marked 100 Years of Service for many chapters across the great state of North Carolina. To celebrate the occasion, the Eastern North Carolina Region of the Red Cross held a Centennial Celebration on June 24, 2017, at the North Carolina Museum of History in Raleigh. The grand affair featured a keynote address by Congressman Walter Jones, war-time reenactors, an art gallery opening by wounded Marines, performance by the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing Band, and the presentation of the Humanitarian of the Year Award for the Triangle Area Chapter. Learn more about the event.