Join us in supporting the American Red Cross. Your gift will help people affected by disasters such as wildfires; it will not only help with immediate needs like food and shelter, it will also put people on the road to recovery and guide communities as they better prepare for all kinds of disasters.
The American Red Cross is deeply grateful for two generous Matching Gift Challenge Grants pledged by Bay Area donors to raise funds for those affected by the devastating California wildfires. The J2 Fund is generously offering to match all gifts of $2,500 or more up to a total of $175,000. An anonymous donor has pledged $10,000 so that the first four gifts of $2,500 will be match on a 2-to-1 basis.
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American Red Cross Helps People Affected by the California Wildfires
The California wildfires have caused tremendous destruction in the state and have forever changed the lives of thousands of people. Recent updates from CBS This Morning show the devastation left behind while the fires continue to burn and people find safety with the Red Cross. As the flames grew and spread, the Red Cross swiftly went to work standing up resources and shelters for what would become home for so many of those people. At one of those shelters in Paradise, California, resident Bonnie recounted how she escaped the raging flames early in the morning without a plan on what she would do next.
“There’s fire all around you, embers are falling, and I don’t know where I’m going,” Bonnie recalls.
Bonnie says the whole situation was heart-wrenching and it was like a darkness had fallen over California. Then she made her way to the Red Cross shelter and was immediately welcomed by the workers and felt a bit of hope.
She is one of nearly 1,500 people who’ve turned to the Red Cross to provide a safe place to sleep each night. But it’s more than just a place to rest your head; a Red Cross shelter offers warm meals and access to resources that can provide a slight sense of normalcy in the midst of sadness and destruction.
“I never thought I would laugh or smile again,” Bonnie says. “The outpouring of love that just comes from everybody here — it was wonderful.”
Beyond physical necessities, the Red Cross is also providing comfort and hope to many as they cope with the disaster. NPR’s All Things Considered shared this story of hope for people finding support and community in Red Cross shelters.
With the growing list of “missing people” the Red Cross is helping to reunite families through the Safe and Well website. Already, more than 1,500 families have been reunited through its use and volunteers are working around the clock to assist the many others who are missing. Even The New York Times is encouraging people to use the Safe and Well website to help people across the country get reconnected.
