Local Red Cross volunteers provide lifeline for families strained by 2025 disasters

MILWAUKEE, WI (Dec. 1, 2025) — This has been a difficult year for thousands of families devastated by disasters across the country. Through it all, people stepped up to care for each other through the American Red Cross.

In a powerful display of community, local volunteers — who make up 90% of our workforce — responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support, and basic health services for families devastated by disasters. Thanks to generous donations, this year, Red Cross volunteers distributed over $130 million directly to tens of thousands of households recovering from disasters of all sizes — including families still rebuilding after last year’s hurricanes Helene and Milton.

The need for this support shows no sign of slowing down. In the U.S., Red Cross home fire responses spike nearly 20% during the holidays, when families face increased fire risks such as cooking and heating. The Red Cross supports some 40,000 people in a typical holiday home fire season. That’s 1 in 5 of the home fire survivors we help year-round.

“Disasters don’t take holidays, and neither do our volunteers,” said Catherine Rabenstine, CEO of the American Red Cross of Wisconsin. “Thanks to generous donations, they have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover. Through these simple acts of giving, we come together as a community to bring light to a family’s darkest days, right when it’s needed most.”

This GivingTuesday and holiday season, visit redcross.org to make a financial donation or to give back through volunteering. You can also make an appointment to give blood or platelets. The need for blood is constant — and just like disasters, medical emergencies don’t take holidays.

Also in 2025: How Local Responders Helped Disaster Survivors and Hospital Patients in Wisconsin

· Over 275 local volunteers delivered aid for major disasters across the country, including the Milwaukee floods, Hurricane Helene, the California wildfires, the South Texas floods, the Kentucky storms, and more. Responding to disasters is a team effort, and as they become more frequent and intense, families are relying on volunteers for support.

· Over 400 volunteers and employees responded to disasters within Wisconsin, including the Milwaukee floods, apartment fires in Milwaukee, Ladysmith, and Franklin, and tornadoes in Dodge County.

· Over $1.1 million in financial assistance was distributed in 2025 to hundreds of Wisconsin households recovering from disasters, including families still rebuilding after the August flooding in Milwaukee.

· Over 90,000 local blood and platelet donors helped save lives in Wisconsin and across the country, including people facing life-threatening conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, childbirth complications, and traumatic injuries. Patients rely on a consistent blood supply to survive and heal — and it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.

Visit www.redcross.org/local/wisconsin/ways-to-donate/local-giving for stories about how people from Wisconsin helped in 2025.

About GivingTuesday:
GivingTuesday is an annual event dedicated to boosting radical generosity, held on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Created in 2012 at New York’s 92nd Street Y, the idea behind GivingTuesday was to set aside a single day to give back. Over 13 years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to donate, volunteer and spread awareness. For many nonprofits, funds raised on GivingTuesday serve as an important kickoff for year-end charitable campaigns.

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 follow us on social media.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.