RESPOND TO DISASTERS
In California, this year’s total so far includes more than 242,400 overnight stays for people affected by the more than 8,500 wildfires, which have burned more than 4 million acres. In Los Angeles, the Red Cross responded to several fires, including the Bobcat fire and home fires. More of 300 Angels answered the call to help, both in person and virtually, by helping with relief efforts in Northern California and Oregon; one of the largest relief efforts ever made by this region.
Although we are still providing aid, to date the Red Cross has served more than 816,300 meals and distributed more than 53,000 relief items to people affected by the western wildfires.
Volunteers also helped more than 1,200 Angels affected by home fires, providing a safe place to stay along with food, emotional support, and additional assistance as needed.
IMPLEMENTING COVID-19 SECURITY PROTOCALS
Many of the standard Red Cross services had to change because we knew it was going to be an intense year of disaster response. The Los Angeles Red Cross quickly restructured how to support people who were forced to leave their home due to a disaster and safety protocols were in place to keep everyone safe from COVID-19. To evacuate communities quickly and safely, the Red Cross established temporary evacuation centers, a safe place for people to receive support and guidance from the Red Cross. Additionally, housing people in hotels, providing masks, and increasing cleaning hours became a routine part of the process.
INTRODUCING A NEW LEADERSHIP
In July 2020, Joanne Nowlin, a Florida native, became the first woman to serve the LA Red Cross as executive director. After three years supporting the South Florida Red Cross through a series of destructive hurricane seasons, Joanne brought to Los Angeles her disaster experience, compassion, and sincere desire to support the region as we face our most recent year. difficult in decades.
DELIVERY OF URGENT AID
As the pandemic intensified, most of the 1,200 People who joined our volunteer ranks this year increased to fill mission-critical positions such as disaster shelters and healthcare workers, blood donor ambassadors and transportation specialists. Volunteers helped us maintain a constant presence in the communities as our life-saving services were always available.
“This has been a year like no other, facing a disaster in the middle of a pandemic. Despite everything, our region, made up of more than 10,000 Red Cross members, stepped up to help each other, even as they faced the impact of these events and COVID-19, ”said Joanne Nowlin, executive director of the Los Angeles Red Cross Region. “Their generous and compassionate actions underscore the unwavering humanitarian spirit of the people of Los Angeles, and we are incredibly grateful for their willingness to give to others.”
FEEDING LOS ANGELES COMMUNITIES
When Los Angeles schools and their meal programs closed due to COVID-19 safety, the Red Cross feared that half a million school-age children were starving. In mid-March, the LA Red Cross partnered with the nation’s second-largest school district, the Los Angeles Unified School District, in a partnership that distributed more than 40 million meals in 15 weeks to those affected by the shutdown. schools, thanks to the hard work of more than 1,400 volunteers.
SAVE LIVES THROUGH BLOOD DONATIONS In 2020, American Red Cross blood drive cancellations tripled compared to the previous year, primarily due to COVID-19. Since March, more than 50,000 blood donation drives have been canceled as the pandemic forced the closure of schools, businesses and community organizations, and affected more than 1 million appointments for blood donation nationwide.
This pandemic has also led the American Red Cross to adapt its collections to include plasma from COVID-19 survivors to help those fighting the virus recover. Since April, more than 35,000 COVID-19 survivors have rolled up their sleeves to donate plasma, many of whom are first-time blood donors. Your donations have enabled the American Red Cross to send about 91,000 units to hospitals across the country to treat COVID-19 patients.
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