American Red Cross

An overdose can happen to anyone, anywhere, but you have the power to help. Dr. Nathan Charlton, emergency medicine physician and vice chair of our Scientific Advisory Council, explains why it's so important to carry naloxone and know how to use it. If you think someone is experiencing an opioid overdose: - Call 911 immediately. - Give naloxone as soon as it's available. - Give CPR if the person is not breathing. - Stay with them until EMS arrives.

Military spouses Younkyeong Bang, Julia Thao, and Yurany Henderson recently completed our Dental Assistant Program at Fort Leonard Wood and are ready for rewarding careers in healthcare. This free program helped the three graduates overcome the challenges of starting over, expand their skills, and pursue new professional opportunities. For Younkyeong, who has lived in South Korea, Texas and Missouri during her husband's military career, the program opened the door to a new professional path after she struggled to find administrative work. "For me, this program is about much more than learning dental assisting skills," Younkyeong said. "It has allowed me to build a strong foundation for a new career, gain confidence, stay motivated and stay connected with the military community." After years focused on raising her family and volunteering, Julia enrolled in the program when her children got older. Returning to the classroom was challenging, but she discovered a passion for patient care and healthcare support. "The program gave me confidence and helped me discover my strengths," Julia said. Yurany, who learned about the program through Facebook after relocating to Missouri from Hawaii, brought previous dental assistant training and found the program helped her continue building a career she enjoys. "I really like the work," Yurany said. "I am a hands-on person, and I am very interested in science and medicine." Join us in congratulating Younkyeong, Julia and Yurany on this amazing career milestone!

The Red Cross has been part of Marilyn McClure- Demers' story for as long as she can remember. As a child, she collected coins for Red Cross boxes at school, learning early that even the smallest act of giving could make a difference. At home, that lesson came to life in a more personal way. With generations of military service in her family, the Red Cross was always there, delivering messages, supporting service members, and showing up when it mattered most. “The Red Cross was always a symbol of hope, inspiration, help, and kindness,” Marilyn said. That early connection stayed with her, but it wasn’t until years later, after moving to Ohio, that she found a new way to turn that belief into action. When she was introduced to the Tiffany Circle, she saw more than an opportunity to give — she saw a path to lead. “If I’m going to go for it, I go for it,” Marilyn said. And she did just that. Marilyn quickly became involved, eventually stepping into national leadership as Tiffany Circle National Council co-chair. Along the way, what has meant the most isn’t just the work, it’s the women beside her doing it. “It connects you with these great women all over the country,” Marilyn said. “But without this and aligning around the mission, you might never have known each other.” Through those connections, Marilyn has seen how powerful it can be when women come together around a shared purpose, giving their time, talent and treasure to something bigger than themselves. And she wants others to know there’s a place for them in that work, too. “We’ve worked really hard to be a place you could see you,” she said. “There is a place for every woman who wants to lead or serve, and there’s a place for every man, too.” For Marilyn, it often starts with something simple — a conversation, a shared story, a moment of connection. Because more often than not, people already have a Red Cross story. “You don’t have to do everything,” she said. “You simply have to start.” And sometimes, that’s all it takes to turn a small moment — like dropping coins into a box — into a lifetime of leadership.

Retired U.S. Air Force nurse Emily Reed spent her career caring for others. Now, she's helping ensure that care continues for future generations as a member of the Legacy Society, a group of people who include the American Red Cross in their will, trust or other planned gift. Emily was newly stationed at Travis Air Force Base in California in 1965 when she learned her father had died unexpectedly back home in Georgia. With no family telephone at home and limited resources, her family had no way to contact her, and she had no means to afford travel home. The Red Cross located her, arranging and paying for a flight home on Christmas Day so she could attend his funeral. "I was amazed," Emily said. "Other than the name, I knew very little about the Red Cross at the time. That act of kindness stayed with me." After retiring from the military and settling in Hawaii, Emily witnessed the Red Cross support people through disasters and emergencies across the Pacific with the same compassion she experienced as a young lieutenant. That experience deepened her commitment to the organization and inspired her to include the American Red Cross in her estate plans. “This is my chance to pay it forward,” Emily said. “I have a wonderful life. I don’t need anything. The Red Cross helped me when I had nothing, and I want my gift to help wherever the need is greatest.”

You probably know Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross. But that's only part of her story. Clara spent her life breaking barriers, helping soldiers on Civil War battlefields, reconnecting missing soldiers with their families, and advocating for women to serve alongside troops. More than a century later, her legacy lives on through our work and the people who make it possible. If Clara's story inspires you, help keep that legacy going with a gift today. Your support helps us respond wherever and whenever help is needed most. Donate today: https://rdcrss.org/4hQtuPw

Be a force for good by joining our team! We're currently hiring for a variety of roles nationwide. Along with meaningful work, we offer benefits, including: - PTO starting at 15 days a year, based on your type of job and tenure. - 11 paid holidays made up of six core and five floating holidays. - A 401K with up to 6% company match. - Paid family leave. Take a look at the full list of job opportunities: https://rdcrss.org/3SYCF6l

Days after a tornado tore through Menasha, Wisconsin, Christian and Billie stood in the spot where their home once stood. The house they rented has been reduced to rubble, with pieces of appliances, furniture and personal belongings scattered across the property. Looking over the wreckage, Billie recalled the terrifying moments when the tornado struck. Christian was at work while Billie was home with their two children. With no basement to shelter in, she gathered the kids and moved to the center of the house as tornado warnings sounded. Moments later, the storm was on top of them. Billie watched as powerful winds ripped the roof from their home. “All I could think about was holding onto my children so they would not fly away,” she said. Soon after, the back of the house collapsed. Despite the destruction, Billie and her children survived, and they climbed out of the debris after the storm passed. Billie suffered a fractured ankle, but her children escaped without injury. In the days that followed, as the family faced the loss of their home and uncertainty about what would come next, American Red Cross of Wisconsin volunteers were there, offering aid and support. For Christian, seeing Red Cross volunteers arrive gave him hope. He said the support from volunteers, neighbors and community members meant the world to his family as they began to recover.

Sarah Acosta's Red Cross lifeguard training was put to the ultimate test when she had to save her own mother's life. During a beach day in Hawaii, Sarah’s sister, Amanda, and their mother, Denise, were enjoying dolphin diving. Suddenly, Denise couldn't find her footing and the waves pushed her against the rough reef. Sarah heard her sister scream for help and dove into the ocean to save their mother. Using skills she learned in class like a "crossbody carry," Sarah secured her and safely brought her back to shore. It was just eight months before that she completed her lifeguarding and first aid training. While she had practiced her skills as a summer camp lifeguard, she had never faced an emergency like this on an ocean reef. “It gave me the confidence I needed," Sarah said. "I am so thankful for that because I knew just what to do." Sarah’s commitment to water safety is deeply personal. When she was 7 years old, she was swept offshore by a wave while playing at the beach and rescued by a lifeguard. The experience inspired her to become a lifeguard herself. The American Red Cross Northern California Coastal Region honored Sarah with a Certificate of Merit for her bravery that day. Today, she continues to serve as a lifeguard and recently became a Red Cross lifeguard instructor, helping prepare others to respond when every second counts.

Imagine answering the call to help — again and again — as disasters strike across the country. That's what more than 2,170 Red Cross volunteers have done since July, supporting families impacted by tornadoes, severe flooding, wildfires and more. Together with our partners, they've helped: • Serve 102,760+ meals and snacks • Provide 9,500+ overnight stays in 135 emergency shelters • Assess nearly 11,000 homes for storm damage • Support 3,580+ people with recovery support, including financial assistance Behind every number is a person facing one of the toughest days of their life: a family displaced by wildfire, a homeowner cleaning up after a storm, or someone searching for a safe place to spend the night. As disasters become more frequent and intense, the need for support continues to grow. Your donation to Red Cross Disaster Relief helps provide safe shelter, meals, relief supplies, and recovery support for people facing unimaginable loss. Donate today to help ensure we're ready to respond whenever and wherever disaster strikes next. Every gift, no matter the amount, makes a big difference: https://rdcrss.org/4gfZfQT

After weeks of severe weather, communities across Indiana and Illinois are facing the difficult road to recovery. Red Cross volunteers have been on the ground providing shelter, meals, health services, relief supplies and recovery support for those affected. Behind that support is a network of volunteers, donors and partners committed to helping families move forward. Here's a look at how that support is reaching people across Indiana and Illinois.