7 Remarkable Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Clara Barton

compiled by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer Celebrate both Red Cross Month and Women’s History Month with these notable tales from the extraordinary life of Clara Barton, the founder of the American Red Cross and one of the most honored women in American history. Clara Barton earned the moniker "Angel of the Battlefield" during the … Continue reading 7 Remarkable Things You Probably Didn’t Know About Clara Barton

Why I Serve – Ruth Townsend, Case Manager

as told to Gail Marshall, Public Affairs Volunteer It was during April of 2020, with the pandemic in its second month, when I began to grow impatient with my new normal. I’m an active sports lover and world traveler, but ski season was over and borders were closing worldwide. My gym was closed, my card … Continue reading Why I Serve – Ruth Townsend, Case Manager

Answering the Call: A Journey of Recovery After a Home Fire

By Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer A text from the Fire Communications Center woke Paul Brown, a volunteer with the Pacific Coast chapter, just after midnight. He was on the road a few minutes later, responding with the Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) to assist the survivors of a home fire. Each year, the … Continue reading Answering the Call: A Journey of Recovery After a Home Fire

Evacuated Red Cross Volunteer Reaches Out to Help Others

by Cindy Huge, American Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer “The time I spent training with the American Red Cross made me aware that wildfires and other disasters could be real events, and that one day I would be asked to respond to them,” reflects Red Cross housing supervisor Kathy Boswell on joining the organization three … Continue reading Evacuated Red Cross Volunteer Reaches Out to Help Others

Recipe for Compassion

A favorite recipe from one of the "crazy" cookbook lady’s 800 books. She received help from the Red Cross when evacuated from the Sequoia Complex Fire. A self proclaimed “crazy cookbook lady” who preferred not to be named, returned to the Red Cross Temporary Evacuation Point (TEP) at the Porterville College parking lot in the … Continue reading Recipe for Compassion

Sew Many Ways to Help!

by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer When Vikki Hunt saw the request for Red Cross volunteers to support a local feeding program back in April, she initially jumped at the chance to pitch in. That’s just the way she is – always ready to lend a hand. But as news of the pandemic continued to … Continue reading Sew Many Ways to Help!

How the Red Cross is Preparing for Wildfire Season During a Pandemic

By Hannah Huelin-Meek California wildfire seasons are scary enough, now add in a pandemic, economic uncertainties, and social distancing. These challenges in 2020 have made the American Red Cross look at how we respond to disasters of all kinds with a different lens. Purposeful planning and preparedness are critical to ensuring that public health and … Continue reading How the Red Cross is Preparing for Wildfire Season During a Pandemic

Our Commitment Never Wavers

★★★★★ Since March of 2019, our Red Cross Central California volunteers have earned the highest rating for their Service to the Armed Forces. The military members, veterans and families served gave an Excellent Rating to our volunteers 76.5% of the time. Client satisfaction just doesn't get much better than that and here are the numbers … Continue reading Our Commitment Never Wavers

What it Means to be a Red Cross Nurse

By Skylar Karle, Public Affairs Intern Nurses have always been a pivotal part of the American Red Cross mission. For many decades, nurses were the public face of the Red Cross and provided disaster relief services and support across our nation. Here in the Central California Region, we want to take a moment to recognize … Continue reading What it Means to be a Red Cross Nurse