Red Cross Central California Blog
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
By Mason Anthony, Communications Intern From educating our local middle school youth on how to stay more physically active to giving her valuable time to the Red Cross as a volunteer, Varlene Kimura has a passion for serving her community. Over the last two years, Kimura has volunteered at multiple Sound the Alarm events where … Continue reading From P.E. Teacher to Red Cross Volunteer, Varlene Kimura Makes a Difference
by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer On Thursday, March 9, 2023, NOAA issued a warning that an atmospheric river – the technical term for a torrential rainstorm - would hit Central California. In the following weeks, storm after storm drenched the entire state, causing devastating flooding and forcing entire communities to evacuate to higher ground. … Continue reading The Power of Community – Neighbor Helping Neighbor
By Taylor Poisall, Red Cross Public Affairs You would never expect that Michael Pritchard and Sue Krueger met less than a week ago. The pair of volunteers have deployed to Central California to support evacuees in shelters across Tulare County. "We're already finishing each other's sentences," laughed Krueger. The pair have become fast friends. Together, … Continue reading Called to Serve: How Two Volunteers Are Making a Difference in Central California
Two minutes may be all the time you have to escape a home fire before it’s too late. That’s why the American Red Cross Kern County & Eastern Sierra Chapter partnered with The Wonderful Company, Lost Hills Community Center, Kern County Fire Department and Kern County CERT on March 18 to Sound the Alarm about … Continue reading Sounding the Alarm in Lost Hills
American Red Cross Supporting Around-the-Clock Relief Efforts at Local Shelters Updated 4/11: In California, the 15th atmospheric river will cause heavy rain and snow across the region over the next few days. Hundreds of Red Crossers from all over the country have been helping in California since these atmospheric rivers began. If an emergency threatens your neighborhood, … Continue reading Red Cross Responds as Storms Impact Central California
By Lucca Lorenzi, Communications Volunteer In January of 2019, Christine Wilson joined the American Red Cross after retiring from her career in local government. Wilson knew she had wanted to join the Red Cross after her sister suffered a home fire. When she went to help her sister, Wilson was met with two Disaster Action … Continue reading Christine Wilson: Finding a Calling
Life and Loss, One Volunteer’s Journey of Sharing Her Heart for Service Sometimes, you’re simply at the right place at the right time. For American Red Cross volunteer Jeannie Wilson, it was the moment that she pulled into the parking lot of her local Red Cross chapter in January 2017. It wasn’t the trip she … Continue reading Jeannie Wilson: “Volunteering is the Best Medicine”
by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer As Hurricane Katrina battered New Orleans and the Gulf Coast, the Red Cross put out an urgent appeal for volunteers. For Jennie and David Risard, this was a call to action. “I heard on the radio that there was a training class for volunteers,” recalls Jennie. “I had heard … Continue reading Spreading Love Everywhere They Go
Neighbors Helping Neighbors By Marcos Osorio, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer As relentless storms caused flooding, landslides, power outages, severe damage to roadways and numerous evacuations from one end of the state to the other, one small community found itself cut off with nowhere to go. This year’s back-to-back storms led to rockslides and major … Continue reading Soaring to New Heights to Help
A collection of stories from Public Affairs volunteers, Sivani Babu and Dave Wagner. Photos by Sivani Babu. Dozens of local American Red Cross volunteers have been helping provide people with a safe place to stay, food to eat, relief supplies, emotional support and comfort throughout the tri-county Pacific Coast Chapter covering San Luis Obipso, Santa … Continue reading Providing Comfort in the Face of the Storm
Red Cross Central California Blog 