CHARLESTON, W.Va. (WVDN) — In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for hundreds of neighbors reeling from disasters throughout the Central Appalachia Region of the American Red Cross. In a powerful display of community, local volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by floods, severe weather and hundreds of home fires. The need for this support shows no sign of slowing down. In the U.S., Red Cross home fire responses spike nearly 20% during the holidays, when families face increased fire risks such as cooking and heating. Just in our region, nearly 600 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires in a typical November and December.
“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Erica Mani, Chief Executive Officer for the American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region. “Thanks to generous donations, they have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover. Through these simple acts of giving, we come together as a community to bring light to a family’s darkest days — right when it’s needed most.”
This GivingTuesday and holiday season, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or to give back through volunteering. You can also make an appointment to give blood. The need for blood is constant — and just like disasters, medical emergencies don’t take holidays.
Also in 2025: How Local Responders Helped Disaster Survivors, Hospital Patients and Military Families
- Local disaster volunteers delivered aid for major disasters across the country and here at home, including Los Angeles wildfires, Kentucky tornadoes and the Alaska Typhoon. Our volunteers were also on the ground in February when flooding impacted Boone, Boyd, Cabell, Kanawha, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Scioto and Wayne Counties as well as the Father’s Day flooding in Marion and Ohio Counties. Our volunteers assisted nearly 1,400 local families who experienced a disaster so far this year. Responding to disasters is a team effort, and as they become more frequent and intense, families are relying on volunteers for support.
- Nearly 38,000 local blood donors helped save lives in the Central Appalachia Region and across the country, including people facing life-threatening conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, childbirth complications and traumatic injuries. Patients rely on a consistent blood supply to survive and heal — and it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.
- Local volunteers and staff helped members of the U.S. military, veterans and their families prepare for, cope with and respond to the challenges of military service. So far this year, nearly 1,000 emergency services have been provided to local, active-duty military and work closely with Veterans at the local VA hospitals.
Visit the American Red Cross Central Appalachia Region Year in Review at https://rdcrss.org/48zY6zy for stories about how people from across our region helped in 2025. You can also call 1-800-RED-CROSS or visit redcross.org/car to find ways to help this holiday season by volunteering, schedule a blood donation or provide a financial donation.
About GivingTuesday:
GivingTuesday is an annual event dedicated to boosting radical generosity, held on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Created in 2012 at New York’s 92nd Street Y, the idea behind GivingTuesday was to set aside a single day to give back. Over 13 years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to donate, volunteer and spread awareness. For many nonprofits, funds raised on GivingTuesday serve as an important kickoff for year-end charitable campaigns.
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 follow us on social media.
