Media Contact: Don Hawkins
(614) 270-0535 | Donald.Hawkins@redcross.org

Dec. 1, 2025 — In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for hundreds of neighbors reeling from disasters in Central & Southern Ohio.

In a powerful display of community, dozens of local Disaster Cycle Services volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by hundreds of home fires. Responders like our own Keith Caldwell and Nick Pappas, who responded with Cambridge resident Rachel Howell's home caught fire overnight are only able to do this because of the generosity of donors.

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.

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Stephanie Byrd, Regional Chief Executive Officer, American Red Cross Central & Southern Ohio Region. “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:

• Local volunteers delivered aid for major disasters across the country, including wildfires in California, flooding in Kentucky, tornadoes in St. Louis and Kentucky, and the typhoon that hit Alaska. Responding to disasters is a team effort, and as they become more frequent and intense, families are relying on volunteers for support.
• Over 4,500 people were made safer as nearly 5,500 smoke alarms were installed throughout the region in almost 2,000 homes thanks to our Sound the Alarm volunteers and partner fire departments.
• We opened two new blood collection locations in Cincinnati and Newark providing residents of those communities more convenient opportunities to give blood and platelets
   

Visit the Central & Southern Ohio Region Year in Review page for stories about how people from our region 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.