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 Lucca Lorenzi, Public Affairs Volunteer Ever since he was a teenager, Clifford MacBurney understood the importance of preparedness. In fact, so much so, he made a career of it. It began during his years at Southwest Ohio High School where MacBurney first began his involvement with the Red Cross. “You might say the Red … Continue reading Fire Prevention Week: Meet Clifford MacBurney
by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer “I’m mostly a mountain biker, so I rode my first Ride for the Red on a mountain bike. It was a tough 30 miles,” quipped Andrew Bonica, “but I’m a Marine and I don’t quit.” A lot has changed in Bonica’s life since that first ride in 2016. He … Continue reading Why I Ride – Focus and Commitment
By Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Every eight minutes the American Red Cross responds to emergencies both locally and nationally. On August 18, 2021, the American Red Cross of Kern County and Eastern Sierra Chapter was activated to help shelter residents evacuated from the French Fire. Volunteers and staff set up a shelter at … Continue reading Turning Heartbreak into Hope
Story by Cindy Huge, Public Affairs Volunteer Rarely do I cry when interviewing an evacuated resident, but today I found myself shedding a few tears. Life recently for Nina Baetz has been very difficult. Her daughter, who was terminally ill, passed away just a few days prior to the mandatory evacuation orders for the fast-moving … Continue reading Life’s Most Difficult Season
by Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Dwayne Levingston has been serving with the Victims Chaplain Association for the past 10 years. One of the many hats he wears is to provide a portable shower unit to residents affected by disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes. When Victims Chaplain Association received word from the local Red Cross that their shower unit was … Continue reading Community Partners in Action
by Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Margie Manning knows firsthand the devastation a wildfire can bring. In 2016, the Erskine Fire swept through the neighborhood where Manning and her husband lived. They quickly evacuated with their pets and sought shelter with the American Red Cross. “There were several hundred people in the shelter and even … Continue reading Caring for People and Communities
by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer - Photos by Scott Dalton, Red Cross “My husband was at work when the first warnings came in,” explained Michelle Scott. She frantically began to pack the bare necessities as the fast-moving Dixie Fire bore down on her home in Lake Almanor. She gave her son, nine-year-old Gavin, a … Continue reading Tears Are Contagious
Story and photos by Dan Santos/Red Cross Public Affairs When Diane Campbell was 16, her grandmother suffered a heart attack. Her grandmother recovered from the emergency, but it had a life-changing impact on Diane. Campbell, desperate to seek knowledge on what to do if this were to happen again to one of her loved ones, found the opportunity to help when her high school offered an … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Meet Diane Campbell
Grilling food is so popular that more than three-quarters of U.S. adults have used a grill — yet, grilling sparks more than 10,000 home fires on average each year. To avoid this, the Red Cross offers these grilling safety tips: Always supervise a barbecue grill when in use. Don’t add charcoal starter fluid when coals … Continue reading Safe Grilling Tips this Summer
Last year’s wildfire season was a traumatic one for families and communities in Oregon, California and other states across the western U.S. In Oregon, some of the most destructive wildfires in state history destroyed thousands of homes, while multiple California blazes consumed over 4.1 million acres. In response, the American Red Cross was there with … Continue reading Red Cross Stands with Residents Devastated by 2020 Wildfire Season
Red Cross Central California Blog 