During Red Cross Month, help heroes in their relief work

Help can’t wait when emergencies strike; whether it’s for the family huddled on the street after a home fire, the patient needing a blood transfusion, or the military member deployed during a family crisis.

In these dire moments, Red Cross volunteers, blood donors and supporters provide relief and hope, helping to ensure that their neighbors never face these and countless other crises alone.

It takes people like Phil Ohl, from Richland, who left family over the holidays to help Hurricane Ian victims on a two-week deployment to Fort Myers, Fla., a beachfront community where the storm damage was massive. People like Larry Bleich, who helps form relationships and recently organized his own blood drive in Gig Harbor. Also Amber Lee, of Marysville, who provides shelter and support for disaster victims in Northwest Washington. Or Elisa Kissinger from Spokane, who in her first year as a Red Crosser has served in various roles, including helping at blood drives, volunteering with our Home Fire Campaign, and serving local military veterans.

The Red Cross mission wouldn’t be possible without these community heroes, and we are proud to honor their dedication during our 80th annual Red Cross Month celebration this March.

On behalf of those we serve, we thank everyone who makes our lifesaving work possible.

You can join in during our Red Cross Month celebration by visiting redcross.org to make a financial donation, schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets, become a Red Cross volunteer or take a class to learn lifesaving skills like first aid, CPR and how to use an AED. With a donation on March 22, you’ll be part of our annual Giving Day campaign (redcross.org/givingday) to help provide shelter, food, relief items, emotional support and other assistance for people affected by disasters big and small.

R.D. Burley

Board Chairman

American Red Cross Northwest Washington Chapter