For patients with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions are essential

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Learn why blood transfusions from donors who are Black may provide best outcomes   Seventeen-year-old Demarus Torrence loves comics and sci-fi movies, and like his favorite superheroes, he’s awfully brave himself. Demarus lives with sickle cell disease, the most common inherited blood disorder, which affects about 100,000 people in the U.S.   What is sickle cell disease?  Sickle cell disease makes red blood cells hard and sickle-shaped … Continue reading For patients with sickle cell disease, blood transfusions are essential

Why I Volunteer: Meet Ken Jonah

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By Lucca Lorenzi, Public Affairs Volunteer Ken Jonah became a member of the Red Cross in March of 2021, but he has been an active volunteer in his communities for over a decade.  In 2010, Jonah began volunteering with his local sheriff's department which led him to eventually become a police commissioner in Danville. Through … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Meet Ken Jonah

From Blood Donor Ambassador to Youth Board Member: Meet ​Noah Tyler U. Tabbay

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By Jasmine Segal, Red Cross Communications Volunteer Noah Tyler U. Tabbay began his American Red Cross journey in 2015 at Pacifica High School in Oxnard. He started by assisting the Red Cross Club as Vice President, then went became an active youth volunteer, aiding the organization with on-campus blood drives. But it doesn't end there. … Continue reading From Blood Donor Ambassador to Youth Board Member: Meet ​Noah Tyler U. Tabbay

Sounding the Alarm in Lompoc

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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

Sounding the Alarm in Porterville

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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

Providing Safety, Comfort and Hope

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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

American Red Cross Celebrates Our Local Heroes, Our Volunteers

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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

Turning Compassion Into Action – Meet Jim Hankinson

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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 Volunteers Fuel Our Mission – Meet Chris Murphy

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By Lucca Lorenzi, Red Cross Volunteer, Cover Photo by Mimi Teller As a transportation logistics volunteer, Chris Murphy has been 'behind the wheel' at several disasters to help ensure safety for nearly two decades. In 2004, Murphy and his wife discovered the Red Cross at an Escapees RV Club event and were introduced to the … Continue reading Red Cross Volunteers Fuel Our Mission – Meet Chris Murphy

National Volunteer Week: Red Cross recognizes crucial support of its volunteers

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National Volunteer Week is April 17-23 and the American Red Cross Central California Region honors the work of its volunteers who give their time to help people in need. Across the country, more than 300,000 Red Cross volunteers serve their communities by responding to thousands of disasters; supporting the collection of blood to help patients … Continue reading National Volunteer Week: Red Cross recognizes crucial support of its volunteers