This holiday season, donate financially or volunteer to help those facing disasters
SHREVEPORT, NOVEMBER 21, 2022 — 2022 has been a year of crisis for families in Louisiana and around the world — from everyday disasters like home fires, devastating tornadoes and powerful hurricanes to global emergencies like the conflict in Ukraine.
“Whether a crisis is felt by an entire community or a single person, it turns lives upside down — especially for the most vulnerable,” said Shawn Schulze, CEO of Louisiana Red Cross. “This holiday season, join us to provide help and hope for people in need during future emergencies by making a financial donation or volunteering to aid Louisiana communities facing crisis.”
On Giving Tuesday, November 29, and during the holidays, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation. Louisianans can also register for volunteer opportunities in their communities here.
RESPONDING TO DISASTERS OF ALL SIZES This year’s extreme disasters in the U.S. are clear examples of the increasing frequency and intensity of the climate crisis. So far in 2022, 15 billion-dollar disasters have upended lives across the country — more than twice the number of billion-dollar disasters that struck annually two decades ago.
For these and tens of thousands of other disasters in and across the country, Red Cross volunteers have worked 24/7 to provide shelter, food and care — including providing more than 2,800 meals and 1,200 emergency supplies after a tornado devastated Arabi last spring.
Red Cross volunteers have also provided relief and comfort after home fires and other local disasters, responding more than 1,400 times to home fires from January through October – or nearly five times every day – to help ensure no one faces a crisis of any size alone.
And dozens of Louisiana Red Crossers deployed to disasters elsewhere in the United States, helping in Florida and Puerto Rico after hurricanes, responding to Kentucky amid devastating flooding and going as far as Alaska to provide comfort and hope after a typhoon.
HELPING FAMILIES AFFECTED BY GLOBAL EMERGENCIES Internationally, the conflict in Ukraine has forced millions of people to flee for their lives. With such vast needs, the American Red Cross has provided financial donations and international crisis responders to support the global Red Cross network’s response on the ground, which spans more than a dozen neighboring countries to deliver food, shelter, medical care, emotional support and other critical aid for displaced families.
Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has also provided financial support to the ongoing hunger crisis in Africa. Overall this year, as part of the world’s largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross provided humanitarian aid in more than 108 countries.
Visit redcross.org/la22 for more information about the important work Louisiana Red Cross carried out since last holiday season.
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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.
