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”

Celebrating Black History Month: Meet Terry Dotson

During Black History Month, we celebrate the African American and Black individuals that make our organization and the communities we serve what they are today. This week, we’re highlighting Terry Dotson, Business Operations Specialist for the American Red Cross Pacific Coast Chapter. We spoke with him about Black History Month and the importance of giving … Continue reading Celebrating Black History Month: Meet Terry Dotson

Spreading Love Everywhere They Go

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

Soaring to New Heights to Help

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

Providing Comfort in the Face of the Storm

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

2022 in Review: Red Cross Mission in Action

By Tony Briggs, Regional CEO and Pacific Coast Chapter Executive Director In what has become a year-end tradition, it’s time to take a look back together at 2022. We thank our volunteers, financial and blood donors, staff and supporters who carry out our mission each and every day. In the past year, our teams delivered food, … Continue reading 2022 in Review: Red Cross Mission in Action

Meet the Board: Sabrina Ashjian

By Angie van Lingen, Red Cross Communications Volunteer As an esteemed member of our Pacific Coast Board, Sabrina Ashjian’s accomplishments have given her a solid foundation to be successful in any role she has undertaken, but her greatest leadership vision is inspiring every community member to be a community leader. Sabrina shared some words of … Continue reading Meet the Board: Sabrina Ashjian