Red Cross response: Donations help those facing climate disasters, fires, blood crisis

By: 
Press Staff Writer

        This year has been a year of crisis for families in Northern Ohio and around the world — from extreme climate disasters like Hurricane Ian to the home fires – more than three, on average, every 24 hours in Northern Ohio — to the first-ever national American Red Cross blood crisis.
        “Whether a crisis is felt by an entire community or a single person, it turns lives upside down — especially for the most vulnerable,” Mike Parks, Regional CEO, American Red Cross of Northern Ohio said. “This holiday season, join us to provide help and hope for people in need during future emergencies by making a financial donation or by giving blood or platelets.”
        Visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or an appointment to give blood or platelets. Individuals can also register for volunteer opportunities be visiting redcross.org/volunteertoday.
        Responding to disasters
        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 Northern Ohio and across the country, Red Cross volunteers worked 24/7 to provide shelter, food and care — including the dozens of volunteers from Northern Ohio who left their homes to assist people affected by major disasters like a typhoon in Alaska, severe flooding in Kentucky and Hurricane Ian in Florida.
        In the communities served by the American Red Cross of Northeast Ohio, Greater Akron and the Mahoning Valley, Western Lake Erie, North Central Ohio, and Heartland, Stark and the Muskingum Lakes, Red Cross volunteers also provided relief and comfort after home fires and other local disasters.
        Helping families in 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.
        Support for personal emergencies
        Throughout Northern Ohio, Red Cross workers have helped people through personal emergencies too, whether it was connecting a loved one with a deployed service member during a family crisis or training people to provide CPR for those suffering from cardiac arrest. Through the end of September 2022, more than 33,000 individuals received training in first aid, CPR and AED.
        Overcoming blood shortages
        In January 2022, the Red Cross experienced its worst national blood shortage in over a decade due to ongoing collection challenges and varied hospital demand during the pandemic. Patients in need of lifesaving blood transfusions relied on an outpouring of support from hundreds of thousands of generous blood donors to overcome the crisis.
        The need for blood is constant. One in seven patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. As seasonal illness and the threat of winter weather ramp up this holiday season, blood donors are needed.
        Book a time to give at RedCrossBlood.org. All donors who come to give blood through Dec. 15 will receive a $10 Amazon gift card by email.
        Donate at the Toledo Blood Donation Center, 3510 Executive Parkway, Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays, 7 a.m.-3 p.m. and Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.
        Blood drives are also scheduled:
        • Dec. 12: 12:30-6:30 p.m., Ole Zim’s Wagon Shed, 1375 S. SR 590, Gibsonburg.
        • Dec. 15, 12:30-5:30 p.m., Hope Community Church, 5650 Starr Ave., Oregon.
        • Dec. 15: 12-5 p.m., Woodville Township Fire Department, 321 E. Main St.
       

Category:

The Press

The Press
1550 Woodville Road
Millbury, OH 43447

(419) 836-2221

Email Us

Facebook Twitter

Ohio News Media Association