American Red Cross Letter
| December, 2020
Years from now, when I look back on 2020, I'm going to remember it as a very difficult period that was met with extraordinary grace and generosity. In one way or another, we’ve all felt the stress that the COVID-19 pandemic has brought into our lives these past months. But despite the challenges we’ve faced, I continue to be inspired by all the American Red Cross has accomplished this year, thanks to generous supporters like you. I hope you’ll consider a donation today to help us continue this enormously important work. |
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| Thanks to your meaningful commitment, the Red Cross has been able to carry forward our lifesaving efforts during this tumultuous year.
While our mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering has not changed, the coronavirus forced us to quickly adapt how we carry out our work. Amid these difficult circumstances, thousands of trained Red Crossers have responded to devastating disasters this year – including multiple hurricanes in the South and record-breaking wildfires in the West. To provide safe shelter to families in the aftermath of these destructive events, we now use hotel rooms whenever possible, and set up more shelters at a time, with fewer people in each, so that everyone we serve can observe social distancing and help keep themselves and their loved ones safe. |
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| For service members at home and abroad, this year has also posed unique challenges, but our Service to the Armed Forces team quickly pivoted to online workshops in order to provide critical resources and support in a COVID environment. We’ve helped military families struggling due to the pandemic, provided masks to veterans sewn by volunteer crafters, and sent personal care and hygiene items to service members who were unable to leave their ships for long periods of time. | |||||
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| The Red Cross is also deeply grateful to our compassionate blood donors and the many organizations who’ve hosted blood drives – including museums and athletic venues that were repurposed to host socially distant drives. Our heroic phlebotomists and Biomedical Services workers also quickly established the convalescent plasma program, collecting antibody rich plasma from COVID-19 survivors to be given to people battling the disease. This work was in addition to the continued collection and distribution of essential blood products for cancer patients, accident victims and others.
For me, 2020 continues to serve as proof of what we can accomplish when we band together to help our neighbors in need. On behalf of those we serve, thank you once again for standing with the American Red Cross. I wish you the very best for a peaceful and joyous holiday season, and a safe and healthy new year. Sincerely, |
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