How You Can Help in Future Disasters

The American Red Cross provides assistance to people in need . free of charge every single day! Your contribution means a great deal to the organization . but even more to the families who rely on the Red Cross to help them through some of the most difficult times of their lives.

With your ongoing support we can continue to keep America strong through our various programs including; Disaster Relief Services, Family Emergency Services, Domestic Preparedness for Bioterrorism, Critical Lifesaving Services, and 24-hour military assistance.

The American Red Cross is not a government agency, we must rely on the generosity of the American public. With your ongoing support, we will continue to be there providing people in crisis . relief for today and hope for tomorrow.

Donate Online
Online Donation Form - Secure credit card donations can be made via any browser supporting the "https" security protocol such as Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Internet Explorer, AOL's version 3, Spyglass, and others. If your browser doesn't support https, you will get an error message when trying to access the donation form. Online Donation Form

Donate By Phone
Please call (757) 446-7382

Donate By Mail
American Red Cross
611 W. Brambleton Ave
Norfolk, VA 23510

Generous Donors Allow Red Cross to Respond Swiftly and  Effectively to Southeastern Virginia Tornadoes

The American Red Cross met the expected costs of the Southeastern Virginia tornadoes Red Cross relief efforts. Red Cross relief efforts are continuing, and assistance for affected residents is available at the Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church at 3488 Godwin Blvd., or by phone at 1-800-REDCROSS. Residents of Hampton Roads who wish to support the tornado relief efforts can donate to other charities which continue to raise funds for the long term recovery.  The American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund is also accepting donations at 1-800-HELP NOW to support Red Cross relief operations for the next disaster, whenever and wherever it strikes.

       After the tornadoes struck, the Suffolk Chapter of the American Red Cross immediately deployed volunteers and supplies in support of the city shelter at Kings Fork High School. Tuesday morning, and continuing into the following week, volunteers took response vehicles into the affected areas distributing meals, snacks, clean-up supplies and personal care items. The Red Cross relief center was set up at the Westminster Reformed Presbyterian Church and will remain open until at least May 7 to provide a wide range of Red Cross services to meet individual and family needs.

In the coming weeks, the Red Cross will continue to work with community partners to identify resources that can aid in the long-term recovery of those affected.

Following is a summary of Red Cross response activities over the past seven days in the affected areas:

• 4,985 Meals served  

• 8,528 Snacks served

• 6,176 Clean-up supplies, tarps, toiletry items, etc. distributed

• 161 Individuals and families met with Red Cross case workers for financial and other assistance in supporting their recovery.   

• 171 people received health-related services from Red Cross Nurses

• 92 people met with Red Cross volunteer mental health counselors to help them cope with the disaster.

• $24,000 of in-kind donations (food, clean-up and storage supplies, tarps, shovels, rakes, etc.) were received and distributed.

• 210 Red Cross Volunteers and Staff worked a total of 6,000 hours on the relief effort as of May 6.

The Red Cross is committed to keeping donors and the public informed of how donations are being used to provide ongoing relief. It also has a standard practice of informing the public when sufficient funds have been raised to cover the costs associated with a Red Cross disaster response. The Red Cross will no longer initiate fundraising activities specifically for the Southeastern Virginia tornadoes. However, the public is encouraged to support the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund and your local chapter for preparedness and response activities in the future, including the 2008 hurricane season beginning in just three weeks.

People can also help their neighbors through the American Red Cross by scheduling an appointment to donate blood by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or volunteering to support the Red Cross mission including our disaster relief work by contacting our chapter at 446-7760.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like floods, tornadoes and hurricanes, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.