American Red Cross volunteers Caroline and Richard Matera exemplify dedication by documenting fire damage in Chinese Camp while maintaining their relationship. Since 2014, they have been key responders to disaster calls and engage with the community to recruit new volunteers. Their teamwork not only aids disaster response but strengthens their bond.
She still remembers her first missing persons case from eight years ago. An older woman was frantically looking for her daughter and granddaughter who had disappeared after
Tammy Salwasser from Alameda County thought she had to be a nurse to volunteer with the American Red Cross. “I first heard about it from
What happens when you have nowhere to go after a disaster? What if your neighborhood is destroyed, or your home is no longer safe? For those affected by the January 2025 fires
It had been a children’s playground in Altadena, Calif. Now, a melted toy sat upon a melted jungle gym. Scraps of canopy were whipping in the
When torrential rain opened over California in the winter of 2023, few could have imagined the devastation that would follow. Fueled by rare atmospheric rivers, communities were flooded with destruction
I first met Lyra Kelly when we were both deployed (aka sent out to a disaster response operation) to help people severely affected by the Spring 2025 tornadoes in St. Louis. Well-organized and
20-year-old Vincent Hayes, a Vacaville volunteer firefighter, was presented with the Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action (CEPA) by the American Red Cross on November 18 for his heroic actions of saving a man’s life while at “The Happiest Place
On a recent rainy day, a dozen young students aged 10 to 13 gathered at the Marinwood Community Center in San Rafael. The three boys
After a severe typhoon in Guam, Red Cross volunteers partnered with local school bus drivers to deliver food to the community. Their efforts highlighted the importance of community engagement, addressing needs, and ensuring support reaches vulnerable populations during disasters.
When Larry Dietz first walked into an American Red Cross meeting 25 years ago, he brought with him a lifetime of service, first to his
As floods ravaged Planada, a small community in central California’s Merced County in 2023, Valley Onward, a local community non-profit organization, deployed its resources to
One day in April 2021, George Delaney lay in a Boston, Massachusetts hospital. He was exhausted. It had been a long four months. In January
By Mark Phillips, board member of the Central Coast Chapter The United States is facing a “silver tsunami” as the Baby Boom generation leaves the
By Diane St. Denis, Disaster Response Operation director On September 25, 2025, the Silicon Valley Red Cross Disaster Action Team responded to a 22-unit apartment
Modern, jazz, and contemporary dance — he loved doing them all on stage. He was a professional dancer who had performed in shows in Chicago,
A Staff Planning and Support Service Associate Feature You may have seen American Red Crossers on the news handing out food or welcoming people into
When Latrese Fowler found out her newborn son didn’t inherit sickle cell disease, she was so overjoyed that she had a celebration. “We had a
We’re thrilled to announce Justin Mueller as our new Regional CEO! We look forward to the journey ahead under his leadership. In the meantime, get
Co-authored by Channa Sweet and Jill Feldon LaNouette Carol awoke at 2 a.m. to an unimaginable scene unfolding in front of her. She was trapped
In 2017, the infamous Tubbs Fire wrecked numerous counties in Northern California, notably the Napa, Sonoma, and Lake Counties, destroying more than half of the
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