December at the Red Cross

What we’re celebrating this holiday season Having trouble viewing this message? [Click Here]( [American Red Cross]( December 2023 [DONATE]( [Crossnotes]( [Make a holiday donation]( The holiday giving season is in full swing, so if you’d like to support families and communities in need, please [make your tax-deductible gift to the American Red Cross before the year ends.]( Every gift has such a meaningful impact — from disaster relief, to blood services, to veterans assistance, to vaccinations or wherever it’s needed most. [MAKE A HOLIDAY DONATION]( [Complete the crossword!]( A special edition of the Red CrossWord is here! As we say goodbye to 2023, let’s take a look at our work over the past year. [Test your knowledge with our special Year in Review edition of the Red CrossWord puzzle!]( [Clara Barton]( Celebrating Clara Barton’s Birthday [LEARN MORE]( Here at the Red Cross, we’re wishing the happiest of holidays to you and your loved ones! It’s only fitting that during this season of giving, we’re also celebrating the birthday of the woman who made our work possible. Born on Dec. 25, 1821, Clara Barton spent her life as a tenacious trailblazer who believed strongly in the power of helping others. At 59 years old, after a lifetime of service, she founded the American Red Cross, saying, “You must never think of anything except the need and how to meet it.” We’ve put together an interactive biography of Clara, [which you can find here.]( Enjoy learning more about her inspiring legacy! [Red Cross volunteers walk past devastated homes struck by a tornado that hit Little Rock, Arkansas]( Southern and Midwest Tornadoes & Storms: 6-Month Update [READ MORE]( Beginning in late March 2023 and continuing through much of the spring, a series of devastating tornado outbreaks tore through communities in Mississippi, Arkansas and a dozen other states across the South and Midwest. In the wake of widespread destruction, more than 4,200 American Red Cross volunteers and employees fanned out across this vast area, bringing vital aid to heartbroken residents — many of whom lost almost everything. Six months after the life-changing impact of these destructive twisters, individuals, families and communities are still struggling to recover from the damage caused to homes and livelihoods. The Red Cross is continuing to provide support with recovery planning, help locating available resources and much more as residents strive to rebuild their lives, homes and communities. [Read more about our ongoing response here.]( [Receive an exclusive long-sleeved T-shirt when you give blood Dec. 18-Jan. 5]( NEW Long-Sleeved Tee + More When You Give in December [GIVE BLOOD]( There’s a special magic in the air this time of year and it’s inspired us to show a little extra love to our dedicated blood donors. As thanks for sharing that magic with patients in need, you’ll get an exclusive American Red Cross long-sleeved T-shirt when you come to give blood Dec. 18-Jan. 5, while supplies last.^ This festive month is all about spending time with the ones you love. By setting aside about one hour of time to donate blood, you can help more than one patient live to experience merriment and wonder with their friends and family. Will you give something that truly means something this holiday season? [Schedule now!]( P.S. We’ve got an extra special offer, just for you! The Red Cross has teamed up with Prime Video in honor of their film Candy Cane Lane, and those who come in to give blood Dec. 1-31 will be automatically entered for a chance to win one of 12 prize packages!^^ Each package includes one $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card** and one 65-inch Amazon Fire TV. [Rescue Royale: Hope for the Holidays]( Rescue Royale: Hope for the Holidays [SIGN UP TODAY]( The holiday season is a time for festivities and family. It’s also a time to give back. This year, you can help people through some of life’s toughest moments. Join our gaming event through January 7 to provide help and hope to communities in need. In addition to making a lifesaving difference, you can earn custom Hope for the Holidays merchandise, including our 2023 Ugly Sweater. [Sign up to join today!]( [Go the extra mile and donate your vehicle.]( Donate a Vehicle to the Red Cross Today! [www.redcross.org/cars]( Your old vehicle has something left to give. By donating it to the Red Cross, you can power our lifesaving mission. Every day, people face emergencies of all sizes — from prolonged and life-threatening blood shortages, to more frequent and intense natural disasters like wildfires and hurricanes, to the unique challenges faced by military families, to a person in need of lifesaving CPR provided by a trained bystander. Donating your vehicle — in almost any condition — is one great way to help us help others in your community. [Watch this short video to learn more about our Vehicle Donation Program.]( [Give the gift of time and volunteer]( Give the Gift of Time: Volunteer [LEARN MORE]( Your time can mean everything to an individual or family in their darkest moments. Giving a few hours a month as a disaster or blood volunteer is the ultimate gift. Give the gift of time and turn tragedy into hope this holiday season. [Learn about our most needed volunteer positions at redcross.org/volunteer.]( [Thanks to BMW and MINI]( BMW and MINI Bring Back First Aid Kits for a Cause Thank you to our partners, [BMW NA]( and [MINI USA]( for their longstanding commitment to the Red Cross and relaunching their innovative First Aid Kit program. Now through June 2024, for every BMW and MINI first aid kit sold, BMW and MINI will donate $5 to support the urgent needs of the Red Cross mission. [Red Cross Apps]( Get access to decades of Red Cross knowledge at your fingertips! [Download our FREE mobile apps]( today and get the tools and preparedness information that you need. Available on [App Store®]( or [Google Play™](. [Apple Store]( [Google Play]( Get more of the latest Red Cross news - [Celebrating Those Who Make Our Mission Possible this Holiday Season]( - [Bridging Worlds: Deivid Ocampo's Impact as a Spanish Translator]( - [Decking Your Halls: Follow these Steps to Avoid a Home Fire]( [Champions]( Thanks to generous donors like you, the Red Cross is on the ground every day responding to disasters like home fires. Make a monthly donation to help us prepare for and respond to emergencies year-round. Receive a special Red Cross pin as our way of saying thanks! [BECOME A CHAMPION]( [Gail] The holiday season is a special time to share joy and gratitude with our friends and loved ones. This year, I’d like to take a moment to share my profound gratitude for you. Since I joined the Red Cross in 2008, I’ve tried to honor the legacy of our organization’s founder — Clara Barton — who led a life of service to others. Over the years, I’ve come to appreciate that our work to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of disasters and emergencies can never be done alone. Every day, we rely on our compassionate community of dedicated volunteers and supporters to leap into action, wherever and whenever needed. I’m so grateful that you’ve chosen to join in this important work, and I can’t thank you enough for your continued care and generosity. [If you are able, I encourage you to join me in honoring Clara’s legacy this holiday season by making a gift to help individuals and families weather their moments of need.]( Thank you again, and I’m wishing you the happiest of holidays. With gratitude, [Gail McGovern] Gail McGovern President and CEO American Red Cross [Subscribe]( | [Contact Us]( | [Privacy Policy]( | [Unsubscribe]( ^Offer applicable to presenting donors only during the following dates: 12/18/2023-01/05/2024. Sizes are limited and while supplies last. Offer subject to availability of donation opportunities in presenting donor’s area. No substitutions and not transferable by presenting donor. Not redeemable for cash. ^^Void where prohibited. Void in Puerto Rico, any U.S. territories and outside the United States and where prohibited by law. Open to legal residents of U.S. states and DC, age 18+ (19+ in NE and AL; 21+ in MS) at entry. Begins 12:00 a.m. ET on 12/01/23; ends 11:59 p.m. ET on 12/31/23. NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY. To enter either present to donate blood at an American Red Cross blood donation facility or send an email to [customercare@redcross.org>](mailto:customercare@redcross.org) and include the Giveaway name, "American Red Cross 2023 CANDY CANE LANE GIVEAWAY." There is a limit of five (5) total Entries permitted per Entrant, regardless of method of Entry, during the Giveaway Period. Twelve (12) prizes will be awarded. Each winner will receive one (1) $1,000 Amazon.com Gift Card (restrictions apply, see [amazon.com/gc-legal]( and one (1) Amazon Fire TV 65" Omni QLED Series 4K UHD smart TV. Total ARV of each prize: $1,800 Total ARV of all prizes is $21,600. Odds of winning depend on number of entries received. Full rules [click here](. Sponsor: American Red Cross. **Restrictions apply, see [amazon.com/gc-legal.]( [Click here]( to unsubscribe from our list, but please know that if you leave, it will be harder for you to stay involved with the Red Cross and continue the work of which you’ve been such a critical part. It is only because of supporters like you that the Red Cross is able to respond when a disaster strikes or a home is impacted by fire, when someone needs CPR or a lifesaving blood transfusion, or when a family needs to contact a deployed service member in an emergency. And we don’t want to lose you! Thanks for your support! © [2023 American Red Cross]( | 431 18th Street NW Washington DC 20006 Donate by phone: 1-800-RED CROSS(1-800-733-2767) | [Donate by Mail]( [Facebook]( [YouTube]( [Twitter]( [Flickr]( [A gift of any size]( supports all of the urgent humanitarian needs of the American Red Cross. [BBB] [Seal of Transparency - 2023 Platinum]( [90¢] The Red Cross is proud that an average of 90 cents of every dollar we spend is invested in delivering care and comfort to those in need.