Tag Archives: Bay Area

More Than a Store: What Community Really Means After Disaster

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Richard and Add Beale were fossil-hunting in the area near Chinese Camp, off the road to Yosemite, about a decade ago when they noticed a ‘for sale’ sign. A few years later they sold their home and packed up their two children and moved to the town where they’ve become community icons.

The American Red Cross could not help communities recover from disasters without the help of community partners. In Chinese Camp, a historic small town outside Sonora that was devastated when a lightning-sparked fire swept through on September 2, 2025, one standout partnership included Richard and Add Beale, owners of the Chinese Camp Store.

Ten years ago, when the Beales first noticed the “for sale” sign on the run-down store and tavern on the road from Sonora to Yosemite, they could not have imagined they would be where they are today: the well-established owners of the store and serving as the Chinese Camp’s recovery hub from wildfires that destroyed 50 of the homes in a community that has only 150 residents.

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The Promise of Blood from Diverse Donors: A Red Crosser’s Emotional Commitment to Saving Lives 

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Dedicated to the memory of Chaznee Brown, blood donor advocate and Sickle Cell Warrior

When Ed Faso was just a baby, his mother suddenly began to hemorrhage and needed more than seven units of blood to survive. His father, serving in the U.S. Navy at the time, asked his commanding officer and about 20 colleagues to donate blood on her behalf. 

Ed (left) chats with Noah James, sickle cell advocate, at the Red Cross blood laboratory in San Leandro

“They got behind my father and my mother. And all U.S. Navy Sailors in his Command donated blood for my mom,” recounts Ed. Growing up with the story of how blood donors saved his mother’s life set the stage for his career as a champion of a strong blood supply. 

Today, as the emerging accounts manager for the American Red Cross in the Northern California Coastal Region, Ed works alongside local community partners to support blood drives—especially those that help diversify our blood donor base. 

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From California to the Carolinas: How one Red Crosser is helping those impacted by winter storms

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By South Carolina Red Crosser Nick Gibson

Andrew Rosenberg worked alongside the HQ Shelter Manager, Tonya, coordinating shelter efforts from HQ.

As winter storms have affected South Carolina over the past two weeks, many American Red Cross employees and volunteers deployed to the Palmetto State to help those in need. One of those employees was Andrew Rosenberg, who traveled from California. 

Andrew is a community disaster program manager in the Northern California Coastal Region, based in San Francisco. 

He believes deploying and helping others is incredibly important. 

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A Lifetime of Giving Back: How Blood Donation Became Part of Fred Sullivan’s Healthy Life

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Fred Sullivan after his early morning whole blood donation.

At 91 years old, Fred Sullivan wakes up every morning at 4:00 a.m., laces up his shoes, and gets moving. Before most people are even thinking about coffee, Fred has already exercised, completed 110 modified pushups, and set out on a three-mile walk. This steady, disciplined routine–along with donating blood every eight weeks whenever possible–has been part of his long and healthy life.

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You Don’t Have to Be a Nurse to Help: Volunteer’s Story Shows There’s a Role for Everyone at the Red Cross  

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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 a girlfriend of mine who was a nurse and she would deploy,” says Tammy. Her friend encouraged her to join as a volunteer, but Tammy’s work experience was in customer service and sales; so, she didn’t think she was qualified to help. That is, until she learned that there is no requirement for specialized credentials for many volunteer roles, since the Red Cross provides free training.   

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