Turning Heartbreak into Hope

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

Meet the Red Cross Shelter’s Honorary Event Planner

By Taylor Poisall, American Red Cross Public Affairs Jessica Dotterer has a personality you can't help but be immediately drawn to. She would introduce herself as the unofficial event planner and a member of the welcoming committee at one of our Red Cross shelters for the French Fire. You would never know that she had … Continue reading Meet the Red Cross Shelter’s Honorary Event Planner

“We felt safe in the Red Cross shelter”

New members of the community evacuated by the French Fire share their experience By Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Their retirement life and long-time dreams of living in the mountains came to an abrupt standstill, for Danny and Li Mullinax, when a call came from their neighbor that their home was under an … Continue reading “We felt safe in the Red Cross shelter”

Help Turn Heartbreak into Hope

Become a Red Cross Volunteer This Summer Retired firefighter and Red Cross volunteer, John Martinez shows evacuated residents information about the Creek Fire We in Central California know all too well how devastating wildfires can be to our communities. Last year, wildfires burned 4.3 million acres across California and led to the largest disaster relief … Continue reading Help Turn Heartbreak into Hope

Red Cross Aids Hundreds Across Central California in July 2021

The Red Cross responds to 60,000 disasters a year — and the vast majority of these are home fires. For disasters big and small, our volunteers provide comfort during what can be the worst days of people’s lives. In July 2021, our mission to alleviate human suffering in the face of disasters was on full … Continue reading Red Cross Aids Hundreds Across Central California in July 2021

Sheltering Tips from Our Disaster Program Managers: What to Include in Your Emergency Plan

When it comes to knowing what do during a disaster, the community looks to the American Red Cross. And here at the Red Cross, we look to our Disaster Program Managers that lead our sheltering teams. We asked them, "As the experts in seeing what sheltering looks like first hand, you may often hear from … Continue reading Sheltering Tips from Our Disaster Program Managers: What to Include in Your Emergency Plan

Why I Volunteer: Meet Julie Creek

Julie Creek became an American Red Cross volunteer in June 2020. Since then, she has gone on to not only serve her neighbors of the Central Valley community, but hundreds across the West Coast as well. "I joined the Red Cross because I was looking for a way to serve the community and I loved … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Meet Julie Creek

Driving Our Mission Forward

When the unthinkable becomes reality, people need immediate support. During these most urgent moments, the American Red Cross shows up—often with little notice—to deliver help and hope, and we do this on a tremendous scale. Every eight minutes, the Red Cross mobilizes to help people in their darkest hours. “It is so great to see … Continue reading Driving Our Mission Forward

Red Cross Stands with Residents Devastated by 2020 Wildfire Season

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