The power of the American Red Cross relies on your generous donations and the tireless efforts of our volunteers, employees, board members and community partners — dedicated people who will continue to make a difference for thousands of lives in 2025 and beyond. As we close out 2024, we wish you a safe and healthy holiday season, and invite you to review some of our region's proudest and most memorable moments.
The power of the American Red Cross relies on your generous donations and the tireless efforts of our volunteers, employees, board members and community partners — dedicated people who will continue to make a difference for thousands of lives in 2025 and beyond. As we close out 2024, we wish you a safe and healthy holiday season, and invite you to review some of our region's proudest and most memorable moments.
News Story: Tricia Friddel Reflects on Her Journey to Become a Blood Donor
Tricia Friddel spent 17 years as a Norfolk, VA morning show host on some of the largest radio stations in the region. Tricia shares how she overcame her great fear of needles to make her first blood donation in 2009.
News Story: Jane Schumacher Finds Fulfillment as Disaster Action Team Volunteer
American Red Cross Philanthropy Officer Jane Schumacher regularly talks to supporters, urging them to support disaster response. She decided to become a Disaster Action Team volunteer to be closer to the mission.
News Story: One year later, Arkansas Residents Continue to Pick Up the Pieces
On March 31, 2023, tornadoes swept across parts of Arkansas, leaving a path of devastation along the way. We are honored to share some of the stories of those impacted as they reflect on what happened one year later.
News Story: Dental Assistance Program Supports Military Families
Army spouses at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, recently graduated from the dental assistant training program provided through a partnership between the Red Cross and the military.
News Story: SAF Volunteer Awarded Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award
American Red Cross volunteer Sandra Johnson has served her community in many ways for over 40 years and now volunteers with our Service to the Armed Forces program. This past year, she was presented the Presidential Volunteer Service Gold Award for the second time!
News Story: Four-gallon Blood Donor from Springfield Wins Special Promotion
The staff at the Red Cross blood donation center in Springfield, MO know Ashley Corsolini on a first-name basis because she is a regular blood donor. She donated during the month of December, which qualified her for a special promotion - and Ashley won!
News Story: Buchanan County Family Reflects on Losing Everything to a Home Fire
No one can ever predict when a fire is going to take away a family’s home. At the end of 2023, Marla Embrey and her family were celebrating the end of the year at Walt Disney World. Their time was quickly brought to an end due to a home fire.
News Story: Red Cross Helps Decatur, Arkansas Family Who Lost Home in Tornado
It’s one of those memories nobody ever wants to have, and for Kong Lor Thao it’s a memory she wants to forget, but never can. Read how she and her family were impacted by a tornado and how the Red Cross helped them pick up the pieces.
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News Story: Kate Appleman - A Diligent Red Cross Volunteer
Volunteering for a local blood drive at Southeastern Missouri University (SEMO), long-time Red Cross volunteer Kate Appleman is a perfect symbol of the Red Cross mission.
News Story: Tornado Survivor Gets Medical Assistance from the Red Cross
After the tornado tore through the countryside near Decatur, Arkansas and demolished her mobile home, Patsy Alleman figured it couldn’t get any worse for her. But it did when she realized that she was without essential medication for Type I diabetes.
News Story: The Warren Family - Impacted by Flash Flooding in Flippin, AR
On July 17, 2024, the Warren family, along with their neighbors in Flippin, AR awoke to a shock. A 1,000-year rainfall event had destroyed their home of 27 years. Read more about their story.
News Story: Air Force Veteran Works with SAF to Help Service Members
For the past two years, Jill has been the Service to the Armed Forces Mobile Regional Program Manager for the American Red Cross Missouri-Arkansas Region. Last fall and winter, she was the site lead for the Bemowo Piskie training area in northeast Poland.