2022 has been a year of crisis for families in the Texas Gulf Coast region and around the world. From extreme climate disasters to global emergencies like the conflict in Ukraine to the first-ever national American Red Cross blood crisis.

“Whether a crisis is felt by an entire community or a single person, it turns lives upside down — especially for the most vulnerable,” said, Vanessa Valdez, Regional Communications Manager, Texas Gulf Coast Region, Red Cross. “This holiday season, join us to provide help and hope for people in need during future emergencies by making a financial donation or by giving blood.”

On Giving Tuesday and during the holidays, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or make an appointment to give blood for patients in the U.S. You can also give your time by registering to become a volunteer in your area.

RESPONDING TO DISASTERS OF ALL SIZES This year’s extreme disasters in the U.S. are clear examples of the increasing frequency and intensity of the climate crisis. So far in 2022, 15 billion-dollar disasters have upended lives across the country — more than twice the number of billion-dollar disasters that struck annually two decades ago.

For these and tens of thousands of other disasters in the Texas Gulf Coast region and across the country, Red Cross volunteers have worked 24/7 to provide shelter, food, and care.

In the Texas Gulf Coast region, Red Cross volunteers have also provided relief and comfort after home fires and other local disasters, including tornados to help ensure no one faces a crisis of any size alone.

HELPING FAMILIES AFFECTED BY GLOBAL EMERGENCIES Internationally, the conflict in Ukraine has forced millions of people to flee for their lives. With such vast needs, the American Red Cross has provided financial donations and international crisis responders to support the global Red Cross network’s response on the ground, which spans more than a dozen neighboring countries to deliver food, shelter, medical care, emotional support and other critical aid for displaced families.

Meanwhile, the American Red Cross has also provided financial support to the ongoing hunger crisis in Africa. Overall, this year, as part of the world’s largest humanitarian network, the American Red Cross provided humanitarian aid in more than 108 countries. Here in the Texas Gulf Coast region, Red Cross international efforts included Restoring Family Links which work to reunite families, International Humanitarian Law program which work to educate our communities about war crimes and how to prevent them here in America as well as abroad and the Youth Action Campaign which works to engage our youth and young adults to be active in their communities, giving of their time and service to educate their peers, friends, families and communities about the importance of International Humanitarian Law.

PROVIDING SUPPORT FOR PERSONAL EMERGENCIES In the Texas Gulf Coast Region, Red Cross workers have helped people through personal emergencies too, whether it was connecting a loved one with a deployed service member during a family crisis or training people to provide CPR for those suffering from cardiac arrest we have been there. Since January 1, 2022, The Texas Gulf Coast region has responded to more than 1,100 home fires across the region, helping nearly 5,000 people start their recovery process. These home fires include people like Dayanara Romero who was affected when her apartment at Sedona Square Apartments was destroyed August 15, 2022. Read more about her story at, http://bit.ly/3ELGlhK.

OVERCOMING THE FIRST-EVER RED CROSS BLOOD CRISIS In January 2022, the Red Cross experienced its worst national blood shortage in over a decade due to ongoing collection challenges and varied hospital demand during the pandemic. Patients in need of lifesaving blood transfusions relied on an outpouring of support from hundreds of thousands of generous blood donors to overcome the crisis.

Beyond national headlines, the need for blood is constant. One in 7 patients entering a hospital will need a blood transfusion. As seasonal illness and the threat of winter weather ramp up this holiday season,make a donation appointment and be a lifeline for car accident victims, parents with complicated childbirths, individuals battling cancer and people with sickle cell disease.

Give thanks and give back — now is the time to make and keep blood donation appointments. Book a time to give at RedCrossBlood.org. As a thank-you, all those that come to give Nov. 23-27 will get an exclusive Red Cross beanie, while supplies last. Thanks to our partners at Amazon, all donors who come to give blood Nov. 28-Dec. 15 will receive a $10 Gift card by email.

Visit http://bit.ly/3VaFfBH for more information about how the Texas Gulf Coast Region helped people in 2022.

About Our Regional Holiday Supporters: 

The Texas Gulf Coast Region Red Cross is grateful for corporate partners like Buckeye, Sysco and EOG who make our work possible every day of the year. Thanks to the generosity of these and other supporters, the Red Cross is able to bring help and hope to people in need.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.