American Red Cross

We're grateful to our longtime partner, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, for helping spread hope and joy through their Light the World giving machines. On behalf of those we serve, thank you for generously supporting our mission this holiday season and all year long. ❤️ #LightTheWorld

For Jackie Speciale, running the TCS New York City Marathon wasn’t just about crossing the finish line—it was about pushing her limits, honoring her family’s legacy of service, and raising money to help others in their darkest moments. “I ran my first marathon in New York last month," she said. "I was inspired by my oldest son who is deployed overseas with the Army National Guard, facing his own challenges and dangers. On hard days, I pushed myself knowing that if my son can do something brave and challenging, so can I.” For 13 years, Jackie has traveled locally and across the country to support people impacted by disasters, such as tornadoes, floods, home fires, wildfires, and more. With the Red Cross, she’s shown up to provide a listening ear, lend a helping hand, and let people know they’re not alone. “As the oldest of five redheads, you could say I’ve been training for disaster response my whole life. But, really, I just enjoy being able to help people when they need it most. Serving others is rooted in my family, and my children have grown up to become Red Cross volunteers themselves. My oldest responded to fires and hosted blood drives before he decided to serve his country.” Inspired by her son’s bravery and her own years of volunteering, Jackie set a bold new goal: to raise $1,000 for every year she’s volunteered with the Red Cross. “When I looked back at my years of volunteering with the American Red Cross of Illinois and saw all of the places I have been and the people I have helped, I wanted to continue that impact by raising $1,000 for every year I have volunteered. So, I ran in the New York Marathon to represent Illinois and show that whether it’s Woodstock, IL or Woodstock, NY, we are all neighbors committed to helping each other during their darkest times. Every contribution, big and small, helped me get closer to my goal of $13,000.” Jackie not only completed her first marathon but exceeded her goal, raising over $13,200 to support our mission. Her story is a testament to courage, dedication, and the power of giving back. Feeling inspired by Jackie’s story? Consider starting your own holiday fundraiser to make an impact, too: https://rdcrss.org/3BCz1qe #StoriesThatInspire

Red Crossers across the country continue to honor the long-standing tradition of making spirits bright for our military and veterans. 🎁 Spreading holiday cheer for troops goes back to the early days of our mission. Red Cross workers helped put together and distribute holiday gifts to soldiers overseas during World War I and World War II. Comforting items like personal care products, games, stationary and candy were included in these packages. Our staff and volunteers are following in those footsteps by organizing events to stuff stockings, make cards, and build care packages. A special shout out to the efforts of South Florida Red Cross, American Red Cross Rhode Island Chapter, American Red Cross Los Angeles Region, American Red Cross North Texas Region, and American Red Cross of Northern New England!

“When I was younger, I almost drowned in our childhood pool. I was leaning over the edge, fell in, and my brother went in after me. That’s why I’m here today. I was fearful for a bit after that. But my neighbors swam every day, and I learned to become a strong swimmer at their house. When it came to my peers and Black culture around swimming, I noticed things like generational barriers and that a lot of Black women don’t want get their hair wet. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I was buying pool inflatables online, and I realized I didn’t really see myself. I started looking for Black-owned pool inflatable companies and I didn’t find any. I thought to myself, ‘Oh, people think we can’t swim.’ I wanted to change that narrative. I launched Alma Ocean, my line of pool inflatables with a Kente African pattern. I knew I also needed to help my community. That’s when I launched Alma Swim Foundation, merged the two, and now, I have a non-profit. We raise funds to help cover costs of swim lessons, which are open to any and everybody who just wants to learn. We also organize cool water safety and educational events like block parties, and partner with organizations to secure swim scholarships. I became a certified lifeguard and am advocating for others to do the same. I’m so glad I did it, because now I’m AED and CPR certified. It was intense, but I learned so much. Now, I’m prepared to save someone’s life. When I think back to my childhood and that I survived, I knew right away that this was my calling. My vision is to echo — to become louder and bigger through other people's voices. I want to encourage, particularly the Black community, to rethink their relationship to the water and know they can actually learn this skill." Danielle Hodge's personal experience shaped her into the advocate for diversity in aquatics that she is today, one who is breaking down barriers to educate her community and beyond. We're grateful to her for sharing her story, and we hope her compassion and drive inspires you to learn lifesaving skills this holiday season. #StoriesThatInspire

Franck was separated from his parents in the Democratic Republic of the Congo after violence escalated, resulting in thousands killed and 1.4 million people displaced. Tragically, he also lost contact with his sister. “They were killing everybody, and I made the decision to run because I was scared the people would kill me, too," Franck said. Young and alone, Franck traveled to a city further away where he felt safe. He worked at a barber shop until he saved enough money to leave the DR Congo. "In this moment when I left my country, I didn't know where my parents were or where my sister was,” Franck said. "Even today, I don't know if they killed my parents." After immigrating to the U.S., Franck connected with his great uncle, who took him in. It was his uncle who also connected Franck with the Red Cross and our Restoring Family Links Program. This program locates missing loved ones who are separated due to events like armed conflict. It took three years, but caseworkers found Franck's sister in a refugee camp. She had traveled nearly 2,000 miles to Zimbabwe. After more than eight years apart, the Zimbabwe Red Cross Society helped Franck's sister call her brother. “Hello?” a familiar female voice whispered. “Hello?” a familiar male voice responded. “Is that you, big brother?” “It’s me. Is that you little sister?” Franck could hear her sobs on the other side of the phone.

“Like all individuals with disabilities, I have faced many challenges. Going through my adolescence was very difficult. However, I succeeded in fighting against these challenges.” Gülhan is a teacher in Türkiye with hopes of inspiring future generations to pursue their dreams. Through the Turkish Red Crescent’s Without Barriers initiative, she teaches and leads young students with disabilities, ensuring that they have access to education, jobs and other opportunities. “We strive to demonstrate that physical characteristics are not important and that when given opportunities, they can achieve great things," Gülhan said. After the 2023 earthquake in Türkiye, Gülhan's work became even more vital. This unimaginable disaster left thousands with permanent physical disabilities. “With the unity of our state and our people, we thankfully overcame these tough days," Gülhan said. "Children and individuals with disabilities must first be accepted by society. We need to start working on this with our youngest children.” Many of Gülhan's students have gone on to further their education at universities, a success she's very proud of and that motivates her to continue her critical work. We're so grateful to Gülhan for using her personal experience to fuel her passion and break down barriers. ❤️ #StoriesThatInspire

Volunteering can lead to a meaningful career. That's true for Mauricio Serrato from the American Red Cross Greater New York. Mauricio joined the Red Cross as a Disaster Action Team volunteer in the early 2000s. He was inspired by the Red Crossers who were hard at work responding to the New York City blackout of 2003. Watching volunteers adapt and react to a crisis reminded him of lessons he learned while serving in the U.S. Marines. Mauricio still remembers his first shift as a volunteer. He helped four families recover from a home fire in Queens. It was so rewarding that he became a full-time volunteer just three months later. Today, Mauricio serves as a Regional Director of Client Services & Recovery and continues to grow with the organization. He doesn't forget where it all started, and he still spends time on the ground responding to local disasters and helping his community recover. ❤️ Mauricio's story proves you can make a difference at the Red Cross, and it can make a difference for you right back. Learn more about our most-needed positions and hear from other Red Crossers like Mauricio during our virtual Volunteer Information Session happening on Dec. 19 from 3-4 p.m. ET: https://rdcrss.org/4gCtajg

“You make a living by what you make in your pocket, but you can make a life by what you give to others. I was in the restaurant business before I became a volunteer. I spent a lot of time behind the grill cooking food for people. I've always learned that food will bring people together. When Hurricane Katrina made her presence in Louisiana, I saw the horrors of the disaster on TV and decided to go to my local Red Cross office and get involved. Before I knew it, I was in the Houston Astrodome helping 23,000 evacuees from the Lower Ninth Ward, and I just couldn’t believe how great I felt by doing that. I remember helping this 1-year-old girl and her brother reunite with their mom, Julie. They were rescued by helicopter and separated when after being transported to a local hospital. It took me an hour of non-stop calling until someone said, "We have a Julie registered here." It was my fourth day on the job, and I got to watch her reunite with her sister and her two kids. Learning what the Red Cross is all about gave me the opportunity to fine-tune my personable skills and become a mass care feeding volunteer. It has led me to some wonderful things and great places throughout our country. When you're struggling because you've lost everything from a disaster, food is a real priority, and I'm honored to be able to supply meals for folks who are in dire situations. I’ve seen the difference it makes when people see us roll into their neighborhoods. It means hope — it’s a sign of hope." Throughout his 19 years with American Red Cross Connecticut Chapter, Joe Apicelli has responded to 60 national disasters across the U.S. He's logged over 6,300 hours as a volunteer, including the nine weeks he spent this year driving an emergency response vehicle through disaster-impacted areas in Iowa, Texas and Georgia. Joe's story of turning a personal passion into a way to serve others is a testament to the power of giving. We hope it inspires you to make a difference this holiday season and bring hope to those affected by disasters, big and small. Give today to provide shelter, food, and comfort when it’s needed most: https://rdcrss.org/3P1naEZ #GiveWithMeaning #StoriesThatInspire

Every year, loved ones are separated due to armed conflict, migration and disasters. When this happens, the global Red Cross and Red Crescent network helps locate missing family members. This program is a free and confidential service. We can help if: - Families are separated internationally as a result of conflict, disaster, migration, or other humanitarian emergency. - Families have already tried normal channels of communication to reconnect. - The family member inquiring can provide information on the sought person. - The family member inquiring is a relative who had been in direct contact with the sought person before the crisis occurred. If you or someone you know is looking for a missing loved one and fits these requirements, please visit this site to learn more: https://rdcrss.org/3DelJRa

This year, we faced the second-highest number of billion-dollar disasters ever recorded in the country. As disasters become more frequent and intense, more people will rely on long-term recovery assistance. Join us on Thursday, Dec. 12 at 2 p.m. ET for a live discussion with Jillian Robertson, senior manager with the American Red Cross Long-Term Recovery Communications team, hosted by Sharonne Hayes, communications manager with the American Red Cross North Carolina. During this conversation, Jillian will provide an inside look into our long-term recovery efforts and share real-life examples of programs that have helped people after disasters and prepared them for future ones. Don’t miss the chance to learn about some of our recovery programs in action and how you can make a difference for people in need. #ClimateCrisis #ClimateAction #DisasterRecovery