Engaging with our Local Communities

October 08, 2026

To truly serve a community, we have to be part of it. That’s why Red Cross volunteers and staff make it a priority to participate in events that celebrate the cultures, traditions and people who make our communities unique. Being present allows us to build trust, strengthen relationships and better understand the people we serve, while sharing information about the Red Cross resources available to them. Ultimately, these connections help ensure that when help is needed, everyone knows the Red Cross is there.

PRIDE Celebrations

Red Cross volunteers participated in many PRIDE parades and events throughout the region in 2016. Whether it’s marching in the Stonewall parade in Columbus or taking part in Dayton’s Pride Rocks! --an LGBTQ+ suicide prevention program, we use these opportunities to support these communities and share that our mission is open and welcoming to all.

a pride parade with two people holding a sign that says ,"Everyone is welcome!"

Hispanic Heritage Events

At the Red Cross, we’re dedicated to ensuring that our services and outreach efforts are culturally sensitive and accessible to everyone. We work to advance our mission to our diverse communities by increasing access, representation and culturally responsive service delivery. As such, we work to immerse ourselves in our Hispanic communities through our outreach efforts.

a Red Cross volunteer poster in Spanish with drawings of three arms rasied.

Black Rodeo

We were proud to have participated in the inaugural Dayton Black Rodeo at Welcome Stadium. The event, in observance of Juneteenth, celebrated Black Western heritage, cowboy culture, and community spirit. “This one-of-a-kind event provided us with a wonderful opportunity to share important information about Red Cross services with a diverse audience,” said Lynne Gump, Miami Valley Ohio Chapter Executive.

While our volunteers were entertained by bull riding and rodeo skills contests, they shared valuable Red Cross resources with those in attendance.

a table with a Red Cross table cloth and Red Cross promotional items in a parking lot with three people behind the table..

Bhutanese Festival

Red Cross volunteers and staff from our East Central Ohio Chapter joined tens-of-thousands of Bhutanese Americans in July for the Global Bhutanese Hindu Organization’s Hindu Festival in Galion, Ohio.

“Events like this allow us to build relationships in a very meaningful way,” said Tim Callahan, Executive Director of the East Central Ohio Chapter. “While we had the opportunity to share information about Red Cross services, we also gained a greater appreciation for the culture and traditions of this vibrant and growing community here in Ohio.”