Red Cross Continues to Deliver Critical Services Amid the COVID-19 Pandemic

Emergencies like accidents, home fires, illnesses and natural disasters don’t stop during a pandemic — and neither does the vital work of the American Red Cross. As the challenges presented by this coronavirus outbreak came into focus in early March, the Red Cross began preparing to ensure the continued delivery of our lifesaving mission. In our planning, we examined the potential impacts of COVID-19 on how we deliver essential services — including blood collection and disaster relief — while protecting the health and safety of our volunteers and employees.

The past six months have been a difficult time for people across our nation as we cope with the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and the myriad challenges and uncertainties that it presents in our daily lives. Amid these unprecedented circumstances, thousands of trained Red Crossers have worked tirelessly to respond to disasters big and small — including Hurricanes Laura and Sally, the Midwest derecho and the devastating wildfires in California, Oregon and Washington. Our heroic phlebotomists and Biomedical Services workers also continue to do what it takes to provide lifesaving blood products for cancer patients, accident victims and others. As we come together to meet these ongoing needs, I’m deeply grateful for the generous commitment of our donors, who have helped us continue to deliver our critical mission every day.