Local Red Cross volunteers provide lifeline

for families strained by 2025 disasters

This GivingTuesday and holiday season, make a financial donation or appointment to give blood at redcross.org

ST. LOUIS, MO (DECEMBER 1, 2025) — Responding to disasters is at the heart of the American Red Cross mission – and it’s a team effort. As disasters become more frequent and intense, families are relying on Red Cross volunteers for support. In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for neighbors in Greater St. Louis, helping communities recover from devastating events.

Last spring, tornadoes ripped through St. Louis and other parts of the state, leaving widespread destruction in their wake. Today, many communities are still recovering from the major tornado that struck St. Louis, displacing hundreds and leaving countless families in despair.

In a powerful display of community, local Greater St. Louis volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by tornadoes, severe weather, floods, and home fires.

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. Across our Missouri and Arkansas region, nearly 2,000 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires in a typical November and December.

“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said LaKricia Cox, Executive Director, Red Cross of Greater St. Louis. “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 to make a financial donation and read stories about how people from Central and Northern Missouri helped in 2025, visit redcross.org/MOYearInReview

You can also give back through volunteering, visit redcross.org/volunteer or by making 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 Their Communities

• Over 66,350 local blood and platelet donations helped save lives in Greater St. Louis 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.
• Through the Home Fire Campaign, volunteers installed over 1,140 free smoke alarms, making over 440 homes safer across Greater St. Louis.

• Local volunteers and staff supported military and veteran communities overseas as well as at home by sending holiday cards and care packages to veterans and active-duty service members, hosting Resiliency and Coping with Deployment workshops, delivering comfort care packages to veterans and participating in Veterans Day parades to show our support.

• Over 20,660community members in Greater St. Louis gained lifesaving skills through Red Cross training in first aid, CPR, and AED.

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 campaign

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