A tragedy in Newcomerstown, Ohio the day after Christmas last year prompted two home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events there in 2023. The first effort to make homes and families safer occurred shortly after a fire that claimed six lives.

The time that Red Cross workers spent sheltering residents of East Palestine, Ohio – five days and four nights - was the longest running sheltering operation in Northern Ohio in recent memory. That would change a few months later.

By the beginning of March, 2023, the American Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, with the support of community partners, achieved its goal of installing 2.5 million free smoke alarms across the country, including 100,000 in Northern Ohio.

Nine local residents were recognized for acting courageously and selflessly in a time of emergency. Read the inspiring stories of these everyday heroes. Video links for each hero sharing their stories are included in the article.

Several friends and family members shared their love for long-time Red Cross supporter Lorraine Dodero and congratulated her in this video for being named winner of the 2023 Community Leader Award from the American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio.

During the month of May, Military Appreciation Month, we recognized local Red Cross volunteers who served our country in the armed forces by writing about them on our regional blog, nohredcross.org.

More than 130 residents of the Terrace Tower apartments in East Cleveland took refuge in an American Red Cross shelter for six nights, after fire forced them to flee their homes the night before the July 4th holiday.

During Medical Laboratory Professionals Week in April, the Red Cross Northern Ohio Region took Facebook viewers behind the scenes at our Cleveland, Ohio manufacturing and lab facilities to watch what happens to blood after it’s donated.

Just two weeks after completing her American Red Cross lifeguarding, CPR and First Aid training, Ayala Bennett used her skills to save her 4-year-old sister who was found unconscious at the bottom of a swimming pool.

Diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia at 2, Cole Kulman faced aggressive chemotherapy that required him to receive regular platelet transfusions. Thanks to platelet donors, Cole was able to finish treatment and is now an active 5-year-old.

As the mother of two children with sickle cell disease, La’Shardae Scott knows the struggle of those facing this illness. Through her organization she’s working to dispel myths and encourage more Black Americans to give blood to help sickle cell patients.

Through its partnership with HOLA Ohio, the Red Cross Northern Ohio Region has been able to assist Hispanic families after home fires, install smoke alarms and partner to provide home fire safety information, overcoming cultural barriers in the community.