October 2020 – Gold Country News and Notes

Sleeves Up Blood Drive & Fundraising Event a Great Success

Thank you to all the blood donors who made Friday’s Sleeves Up Blood Drive and Fundraising Event a success!

We collected 75 units of blood at Sutter Health Park, home of the Sacramento River Cats. That amount can potentially save 225 lives!

A special thanks to our sponsors, including Sutter Health, Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Sacramento, Reliable GMC, Port of Stockton, UC Davis Health and SMUD.

If you want to register to donate blood — including at our Nov. 5 blood drive with the Sacramento Kings, visit redcrossblood.org. Text SLEEVESUP to 41411 to support this critical lifesaving work with a financial contribution.

Putting the Heart in Social Distancing

American Red Cross volunteers put the heart in social distancing with air hugs! Heath Wakelee and Mary Prather share an air hug while deployed to the Northern California wildfires.

Helping By Listening

“A lot of what we do is listen to the people and allow them to tell their story… my goal in spiritual care is to help people.”

Hear Disaster Spiritual Care Volunteer, David Long, talk about his experience in supporting California residents during the recent northern fires.

Warehouse Volunteer Spotlight: Mike Woods

One the critical parts of our mission is moving relief goods where they’re needed most. Mike Woods is currently a one-man team in Yuba City, getting supplies ready and shipped off to areas of the state where the Red Cross is helping people affected by wildfires.

If you’d like to volunteer to help Mike, or join the Red Cross in other capacities, please visit redcross.org/volunteer.

North Complex Fire Evacuee’s Story

Heidi Hammond had to flee her home with only her children and her pets. This meant that she didn’t have key equipment to keep her children safe. The Red Cross was able to provide her with the support she needed to protect her kids.

Disaster Mental Health Worker Spotlight: Brenda Benjamin

American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health workers like Brenda Benjamin provide valuable assistance to people who have been impacted by disasters like wildfires.

If you need mental or spiritual care assistance, or any other kind of assistance because you were affected by the wildfires, please call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Thank You, Red Cross Volunteers!

American Red Cross volunteers often feel helping others is reward enough. A gesture like the one seen in this video is even more rewarding.

To become a Red Cross volunteer, and collect your own heartfelt thank-you card, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

Knocking on Doors

During times of trouble, you can count on American Red Cross volunteers like Mike Woods to arrive on scene with a smile on their face (though it may be hard to see through the face mask)! Our Red Cross volunteer spent his days knocking on the doors of Butte County hotels to deliver meals to residents displaced by the recent fires. If you’re interested in joining our team please go to http://www.redcross.org/volunteertoday.

Cancer Doesn’t Stop These Volunteers

The Gold Country Region of the American Red Cross has some incredibly dedicated volunteers! Among them are Heath Wakelee and Mary Prather who don’t let cancer get in the way of helping people who need it most.

Volunteer Dave Boyles Explains Damage Assessment

Volunteer damage assessor Dave Boyles explains just one of the ways the Red Cross helps people who lose their homes to disasters like wildfires.