Red Cross honors community heroes during annual Red Cross Month celebration in March

This past year marked one of our region’s most active for severe weather; in some cases, battering communities still reeling from previous disasters. We saw Red Cross volunteers step in to provide comfort and relief from wildfires, a dangerous heat wave and devastating flooding. Since January 1, our teams of volunteers have responded to at least 175 home fires across the Northwest region. And we’ve seen hundreds roll up a sleeve to donate, as every day hospital patients in the U.S. needed lifesaving blood to battle illness and injury.

In March, the Northwest Region is honoring the people who make its mission possible every day during our annual Red Cross Month celebration — a national tradition started nearly 80 years ago when President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first national Red Cross Month proclamation recognizing those who give back through the American Red Cross. Each U.S. president has issued a proclamation ever since. 

“When emergencies strike, our community rallies together to help families and individuals when it matters most,” said Alex Dieffenbach, Northwest Region CEO. “We honor this dedication during our Red Cross Month celebration, and we invite everyone to turn their compassion into action by donating, volunteering, giving blood or taking a lifesaving skills course.” 

You can join us in celebrating Red Cross Month by visiting redcross.org to give blood, become a volunteer or take a class in lifesaving skills, such as first aid and CPR. On March 23, you can also join our annual Red Cross Giving Day campaign by donating at redcross.org/givingday and help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.  Link Transit Ambassadors Red Cross honors community heroes during annual Red Cross Month celebration in March Help can’t wait during emergencies.

Already in 2022, our disaster teams have responded to at least 175 home fires throughout the Northwest Region, providing emergency assistance to more than 565 individuals whose lives have been impacted by those devastating occurrences. We’ve seen Red Crossers step in to provide shelter when severe flooding hit our community, deploy nationally when the need called, and save lives using CPR skills, like Tracy Sheehy who answered a call for help on Thanksgiving Day. We honored our local heroes at this year’s Heroes Breakfast in King County on March 10. 

The Red Cross blood supply remains incredibly vulnerable — especially as doctors begin to resume elective surgeries previously delayed by omicron. It’s critical that individuals schedule a blood or platelet donation immediately to help ensure patients get the care they need as soon as possible. To make an appointment, visit RedCrossBlood.org, call 1-800- RED CROSS or download the Red Cross Blood Donor App.  

As a thank-you, all those who come to give March 1-31 will receive a $10 e-gift card, thanks to Fanatics. Plus, those who come to donate in March will be automatically entered for a chance to win a trip for two to the 2022 MLB® AllStar Game® in Los Angeles, California.* 

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @ RedCross