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 Barbara Wood, Red Cross volunteer Red Cross volunteer nurse, Barbara Pease, of Sunnyvale said she was thrilled when a match between a break in her busy life and the need for help in a disaster allowed her to pitch in after the Oak Fire broke out in Mariposa County on July 22. “I don’t … Continue reading Red Cross Nurses Save the Day
By Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer When thousands were forced from their homes near Yosemite National Park due to the fast-moving Oak Fire, almost 100 humans landed at the Red Cross shelter in nearby Mariposa. Along with them came another 100 family members - pet cats and dogs, and an assortment of birds and reptiles. … Continue reading It’s Our Pets That Make Us Human
by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer The Miwok have inhabited the Sierra Nevada mountains in and around Yosemite National Park for thousands of years. George Leroy Williams, Sr. lives with his family in the Bootjack neighborhood just south of the Park. I found Williams, a self-described spiritual leader of the Wilton Rancheria Tribe of Miwoks, … Continue reading Finding Shelter, Each In Their Own Way
Meet Taylor, the youngest helper at the American Red Cross shelter at Mariposa Elementary School. The ten-year-old from Oregon was in Mariposa County visiting her grandparents when they were evacuated by the Oak Fire late Friday night. “This was my first time evacuating in my whole entire ten years,” Taylor explained. She collected her suitcase … Continue reading People of All Ages Can Make a Difference, Even Ten Year Olds Like Taylor
"We can't thank you enough"Clare Drake The Washburn Fire was not originally included in the Drake family's travel itinerary when they began their once-in-a-lifetime trip across the pond from Portsmouth, London. Soon after they checked in to their hotel in Yosemite, their plans quickly changed once the Wawona area was quickly evacuated by a historic … Continue reading A Trip of a Lifetime: American Red Cross Volunteers Help UK Family Displaced by Washburn Fire
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 of the Pacific Coast partnered with Lompoc City Fire Department and Allen Hancock College Fire Cadets on May 7 to Sound the Alarm about home fire safety. The goal of these … Continue reading Sounding the Alarm in Lompoc
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 of the Central Valley partnered with Porterville Fire Department and Tulare County Fire Department on April 30 to Sound the Alarm about home fire safety. The goal of these events are … Continue reading Sounding the Alarm in Porterville
by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer At 5:22 am on a Friday morning in mid-April, the Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) was notified that the Oxnard Fire Department was battling a structure fire in a large house on the edge of town. Within minutes, volunteer Thomas Gorden, the Dispatcher/Duty Officer, had two members of … Continue reading Providing Safety, Comfort and Hope
It’s National Volunteer Week, a time for the American Red Cross to recognize the individuals who make our humanitarian work possible each day. We are so proud to celebrate our volunteers' commitment to serving others. The hard work that our volunteers give day in and day out to our mission is nothing short of amazing. … Continue reading American Red Cross Celebrates Our Local Heroes, Our Volunteers
By Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Retirement brought a new challenge for Jim Hankinson in the form of what to do with his time. After much reflection which included thinking back to his time as a youth and his parents stressing the importance of helping others, Jim began the journey of finding a … Continue reading Turning Compassion Into Action – Meet Jim Hankinson
Red Cross Central California Blog 