It appears every year, the holidays come earlier than the year before. Christmas trees out during Halloween, Black Friday deals well-before Thanksgiving weekend and before you know it, you are well into the holiday hustle and bustle. The holidays are also a time when many offer their time, talent and treasure to their favorite non-profit mission.
For the 2019 Holiday Campaign, we will continue to unite around the common theme of “Give Something That Means Something”, using the call to action “Your donation brings comfort and hope” to engage the public in supporting our lifesaving mission to bring hope to those in need.
DISASTER RESPONSE:
Every eight minutes, someone is affected by a disaster in the U.S. This year, donations to the Red Cross helped thousands of people whose lives were upended by disasters across the country.
- Red Cross volunteers were by the sides of families affected by large events like Hurricane Dorian on the East Coast, tropical storm flooding in Texas, and tornadoes and floods in the Midwest. Here in the Tennessee Region, we have volunteers responding to both national disasters and those in our own state. Home fires statewide, floods in the spring and tornadoes and fall high winds caused havoc for many of our Tennesseans.
- On average, the Red Cross responds to a new major disaster every two weeks in the U.S. — on top of responding to tens of thousands of smaller disasters like home fires each year.
- Donations are key to saving lives because they fund nearly 100 percent of our disaster relief activities. They help provide food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance to help people get back on their feet.
Disasters can happen anytime, anywhere. The need is constant. Your donation can help provide necessities like emergency shelter, hot meals and blankets for families in need.
- For example, your gift of $50 can deliver hot meals for five people or provide blankets for 10 people after a disaster.
- Or a larger donation of $100 can provide a family of two with a full day’s worth of emergency shelter with meals, snacks, blankets, cots and hygiene supplies.
- Please #GiveWithMeaning to support people in need at redcross.org/gift.
SERVICE TO THE ARMED FORCES
You can also support other parts of our mission, such as helping military members and veterans.
- Across the country, veterans rely on the Red Cross for support transitioning back to civilian life. Your donation of $50 can help connect veterans and their families to critical community services, such as food, housing, mental health support and rehabilitation.
- Red Cross volunteers also support service members in military hospitals. A larger donation of $145 can provide hospital kits, filled with toiletries and other essentials, for 20 service members.
INTERNATIONAL SERVICES
In addition, you can help save lives around the world.
- Through our work with the Measles & Rubella Initiative, you can help provide vaccinations for children and educate families about the dangers of these diseases.
- Your gift of $100 can provide lifesaving vaccinations for 100 children facing an increased risk of measles and rubella around the world.
GIVING LIFESAVING BLOOD
The holidays are a difficult time to collect blood because of busy schedules and inclement weather. Still, the need for blood is constant to help accident victims, cancer patients and others who rely on lifesaving blood products every day.
- To give the gift of life, you can make an appointment to donate blood or platelets by visiting redcrossblood.org.
- If you’re unable to make a blood donation, please consider making a gift to support our lifesaving Blood Services at redcross.org/gift.
So, this holiday season, please remember the good work the Red Cross does, and the volunteers who serve our organization helping others. I am grateful for your support. Happy Holidays!
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