Delivering Compassion and Hope in 2024

In Fiscal Year 2024, the American Red Cross responded to more frequent and more intense disasters, delivered lifesaving blood products, trained individuals for moments that matter, helped U.S. military service members, their families and veterans through various challenges, and supported the global Red Cross Red Crescent Movement in aiding communities around the world.

[bobbigger]

I donated for the first time in summer of 1971 at a Lutheran Church in Gastonia, NC with my good friend Gary Lundquist. Gary also still donates. I gave pint 158 August 20th at Gastonia’s Red Cross office. It’s been more but this is since the early’90’s. I’m very grateful to my friend for getting me started. I’ve been deferred a few times due to low iron levels and hypertension but am doing much better. It’s a wonderful feeling like no other knowing that someone will be helped by this simple act of love. I often remind friends when I donate and that’s their cue to schedule their appointments to donate. Many thanks to the American Red Cross, employees and volunteers. I always seem to meet fellow donors I have a lot in common with and we have great conversations. I’ve learned when donating blood that it really is a small world! People ask me, “Are you SURE you want to donate blood?” I answer, “O…POSITIVE!”

[Richard_K]

Great video. I'm so proud to be a RC volunteer for sixteen years and counting.