The Future of the Red Cross: Meet Angad Gill

Our Red Cross volunteers come together during times of crisis and suffering to provide aid when it is needed most. They come from different backgrounds with traditions and cultures that are native to their heritage and upbringing. This month, we recognize and honor the work of our Asian American and Pacific Islander volunteers for all … Continue reading The Future of the Red Cross: Meet Angad Gill

Celebrating Military Appreciation Month: Ray Quintana

By Mason Anthony, Communications Volunteer More than 20,000 veterans serve as American Red Cross volunteers. One of those volunteers is Ray Quintana, a long-term American Red Cross volunteer and Vietnam Veteran, who recently was a passenger on a Central Valley Honor Flight. He joined 67 other veterans who traveled to Washington D.C. to see the … Continue reading Celebrating Military Appreciation Month: Ray Quintana

From P.E. Teacher to Red Cross Volunteer, Varlene Kimura Makes a Difference

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

Inspiring the Next Generation of Volunteers: Meet Hannah Wirz

This Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, we’re highlighting men and women who play an important role in helping the American Red Cross fulfill its humanitarian mission every day. This week, we’d like to feature Hannah Wirz, a dedicated volunteer who serves as the Chair of the Board of Directors for our Pacific Coast Chapter. Here … Continue reading Inspiring the Next Generation of Volunteers: Meet Hannah Wirz

Meet the Board: Thilani Grubel “Serving a Purpose”

By Taylor Poisall, American Red Cross Communications "If I'm going to use my time here on Earth, I want to make sure that it's serving a purpose." Thilani Grubel If you ask Thilani Grubel what her goal is in the next ten years, she’ll tell you she wants to “do good and solve problems.” This … Continue reading Meet the Board: Thilani Grubel “Serving a Purpose”

The Power of Community – Neighbor Helping Neighbor

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

Called to Serve: How Two Volunteers Are Making a Difference in Central California

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

Sounding the Alarm in Lost Hills

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

Join Me to Save Lives

Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Steve Medina is a Red Cross volunteer serving with the Disaster Action Team, in Mass Care, and recently as a part … Continue reading Join Me to Save Lives

Jeannie Wilson: “Volunteering is the Best Medicine”

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”