Pennsylvania Red Crossers hold a press conference in the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg on March 24, 2026 for Red Cross Advocacy Day. Photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross
On March 26, volunteers and staff traveled to the state capitol in Harrisburg to attend American Red Cross Pennsylvania Advocacy Day during Red Cross Month.
Standing side by side with prominent Pennsylvania lawmakers on the Capitol Rotunda steps, Jennifer Graham, the CEO for the Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Region (SEPA), told the crowd, “Help can’t wait” in an emergency – the theme of the day.
She thanked the 7,000 volunteers across the state who respond when disaster strikes.
“Their dedication is extraordinary. Without them, the Red Cross mission would not be possible,” she said.
Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region CEO Jorge Martinez and Southeastern Pennsylvania CEO Jennifer Graham hold a proclamation from Governor Josh Shapiro recognizing March as Red Cross Month in the Commonwealth. Photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross
Representative Joe Webster spent two decades working in the Pentagon and was there when terrorists attacked on 9/11 and the hijacked Flight 77 crashed into the building. He marveled at how fast the Red Cross arrived to help on that horrific day.
“When I got to the parking lot of the Pentagon the Red Cross was already there and I give credit to the volunteers for the immediate response.”
Representative Webster expressed confidence that whatever national incident or weather event may happen, he believed Red Cross volunteers would step up to help.
He said, “Volunteers, you’ve been honored this morning but you honor us by being here.”
Jennifer Strayer is a blood donor and nurse from the Central Pennsylvania Chapter who has volunteered for the Red Cross as a board member for more than a year. She loves history and appreciates the beauty of the capitol building. Hearing lawmakers speaking about their own experiences with the Red Cross meant a lot to her.
“It touches you as a volunteer, as a board member, to know that we’re doing great work and our lawmakers see it. They’re advocating for us,” she said.
Jennifer Strayer is a nurse and Red Cross regional board member who attended the Red Cross Pennsylvania Advocacy Day at the capitol. She said, "It’s very emotional to hear our lawmakers talk about their own personal connection to the Red Cross in times of need. Between the military, blood donation and fires -- they hit on a lot of the great work that our volunteers do every day." Photo by Jenny Farley / American Red Cross
Representative Lisa Borowoski, Representative Mark Gillen and Senator Doug Mastriano addressed the crowd, along with Jorge Martinez, the CEO of the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region.
CEO Martinez explained why Red Cross programs like Sound the Alarm are so important.
“More people died in home fires in Pennsylvania last year than in any other state. 152 lives lost,” he said.
During a Sound the Alarm event, Red Crossers go door to door installing free smoke alarms in homes and walking through fire escape plans so families will learn how to get out during a fire.
“Our free smoke alarm program saves lives and it’s only possible through generous support from donors and the volunteers you see standing behind me,” he said.
After leaving the capitol, many Red Crossers traveled by bus to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) to tour the building and learn more about the essential cooperation between the Red Cross and emergency management.
Jeffrey Pioszak is a mass care coordinator at PEMA in the Bureau of Administrative Services Division of Emergency Planning and Response. He spoke to the group about how disasters “begin and end locally.”
He said, “We depend on what the American Red Cross does. We only get better when we all work together.”
Pennsylvania Red Crossers sit in the Emergency Operations Center at PEMA headquarters in Harrisburg. Photo by Alana Mauger / American Red Cross
Katrina Mulherin is a community disaster program specialist for the Delaware Valley Chapter of the Red Cross who will celebrate her one-year anniversary at the Red Cross in May.
She traveled to PEMA and the capitol from West Chester with Lynn Cohen, the executive director for the Delaware Valley Chapter, Heather Gale, SEPA’s regional mass care manager, and Lisa McGee, SEPA’s regional disaster services officer.
Katrina made the trip “to learn more about the work the Red Cross does at the governmental level to advocate for important issues.”
She said meeting lawmakers and learning more about PEMA was a great learning opportunity and “It really paints a clearer picture of how all these different aspects work together to support the Red Cross.”
Pictured left to right: Red Cross workers Katrina Mulherin and Heather Gale drove to Harrisburg from West Chester to attend the Red Cross Advocacy Day during Red Cross month. Photo by Jenny Farley/American Red Cross.
The Red Cross responds to about 65,000 disasters every year and provides 40% of the nation’s blood supply. To learn more, go to redcross.org.
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- Written by Jenny Farley
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