American Red Cross of Northern New England

Red Crossers from across Northern New England continue to provide care and comfort to more than 120 residents displaced by a large-scale dormitory fire Wednesday at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. While most displaced students have been accommodated elsewhere on campus, 32 individuals—primarily families—required emergency shelter. The team sprang into action opening a shelter by Wednesday evening. Over the last 72 hours, our team has been working around the clock to ensure these individuals' immediate needs are met. Our dedicated volunteers and staff are working with the school and town to source meals through a local food pantry, ensuring all cultural and religious dietary needs are met during observance of Ramadan. We're working to provide 150 meals, three times a day. Our disaster-related health and mental health volunteers have been called in to support the residents' physical and emotional needs as they navigate this disaster. The Red Cross and community partners are prepared to support these students and families through next week and will continue to assess recovery needs as they evolve.

"Red Cross blood saved my life." Nine-year-old Lucy Bellemare tells Governor Kelly Ayotte about the lifesaving impact of blood donation during her battle with leukemia. Lucy has needed 30 blood transfusions in the last 13 months. As #RedCrossMonth comes to a close, we wanted to recognize this powerful moment during our meeting with the governor yesterday. Our team of volunteers, board members and staff were invited to join Gov. Ayotte in the Executive Chambers of the New Hampshire State House as she signed a proclamation recognizing the vital role the Red Cross plays in supporting our communities by responding to disasters, assisting military families, providing health and safety training and, of course, collecting and distributing lifesaving blood. We are so grateful for our Red Crossers and all the amazing work they take on every day to prevent and alleviate human suffering wherever it may be found ??.

Thank you donors! Thank you NEWS CENTER Maine. Thank you to all our site sponsors ??. Across five locations throughout Maine, we came together with our generous donors to collect 171 pints of lifesaving blood! We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who came out to our blood drives in Bangor, Waterville, Rockland, Brunswick and Portland on Wednesday! Together we are helping to save lives. Read more about this awesome drive ?? https://rdcrss.org/4j7XIei #HelpCantWait #RedCrossMonth

Our Disaster Action Teams from Vermont and New Hampshire responded to a large-scale multi-family fire yesterday at the School of International Training (SIT) in Brattleboro, Vermont. The fire displaced 126 people, including 17 minors. Our team quickly mobilized to open a shelter on the campus. Thirty-two residents stayed with us overnight. Over the next several days, the Red Cross will be working to meet the immediate needs of all those displaced, providing meals as well as disaster-related health services and emotional support. We continue to work with officials from the town and school on recovery planning.

We’re so grateful for your support on Giving Day! Because of you, we’re able to help provide food, shelter and other critical support to people affected by disasters, big and small. As disasters continue to become more frequent and intense, people are relying on the Red Cross for help. You make our lifesaving mission possible! If you weren’t able to support us on @RedCross Giving Day, there is still time to donate to support our vital work. Give today: https://rdcrss.org/4gDI20z #HelpCantWait

Imagine losing your home to a disaster and not knowing where to go or when your next meal will be. As disasters intensify across the country, more people are relying on the Red Cross for essential support, including shelter, food and financial assistance. These critical services, which are fueled by the generosity of donors, are vital as disasters disrupt lives and worsen health, hunger and housing needs. Your support on Red Cross Giving Day — today and beyond — enables us to respond to future disasters, big and small, and provide comfort and care to people as they recover. Give today to deliver help when it can’t wait: https://rdcrss.org/4gDI20z #HelpCantWait

Today is Red Cross Giving Day! Regional communications manager Dan Dowling sat down with regional chief development officer Michelle Tussing and regional disaster officer John Montes from the Northern New England region to talk about the importance of Giving Day donations for disaster relief. During the first 50 days of 2025, American Red Cross volunteers responded to more big disasters across the U.S. than calendar days. Since January, volunteers from Northern New England have deployed to help communities recovering from disasters like the Los Angeles area wildfires and flooding in Kentucky. Red Cross Giving Day aims to rally 30,000 individuals to help people affected by disasters big and small. A gift of any size makes a difference. For example, a donation of $3 can provide a comfort kit with supplies like a toothbrush, comb and shampoo, and a gift of $11 can provide a nutritious meal, snack and drink. Visit redcross.org today to make a financial donation! #HelpCantWait #RedCrossMonth

Imagine your life being turned upside down by a disaster. One minute you’re spending time with your family—the next, you’re jolted by the sound of a blaring smoke alarm, tornado siren or emergency evacuation alert. You flee your home and leave behind nearly everything you hold dear, not knowing what will remain when you return. This happens every eight minutes to families across the country, and your support of the American Red Cross helps ensure they don’t face these crises alone. Today, unite with thousands of compassionate people like you by donating at redcross.org/GivingDay. In moments of heartbreak, your gift gives hope by providing shelter, food, relief supplies, emotional support and financial assistance. #HelpCantWait

"I have a whole new respect for the value and the importance of giving blood." Mainer Seth Meyer says he is alive today because blood donors helped him win his battle with cancer last year. Throughout Seth's treatment for stage 4 B-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, he needed red blood cells, platelets and plasma to survive. Nearly 2 million people will be diagnosed with cancer this year. The vast majority will need blood transfusions. That's why we are partnering with NEWS CENTER Maine TODAY for a statewide blood drive. There are still appointments available. We need your help! Join us today at one of 5 locations across the state. Together we can save more lives! To make an appointment: https://lnkd.in/d4-iRfRw

The Phillips' family felt safe. Their home had smoke alarms. But then the unthinkable happened. “Our water heater caught fire, and our smoke alarms didn't go off. It almost burned our house down. It was terrifying," said Tabrizia Phillips, of Maine. What the Phillips family didn't realize is that the sensitivity of these lifesaving devices’ internal sensors can dull over time. That's why we recommend replacing your smoke alarms every 10 years. Through their doctor, the Phillips learned that the American Red Cross has a program to install free smoke alarms in people’s homes. As part of this Home Fire Campaign, teams of trained Red Cross volunteers install free smoke alarms in at-risk communities where they’re needed most. While one volunteer installs and tests the smoke alarms, the other volunteer works with the residents to create an evacuation plan and review critical home fire safety tips. “I think it’s a great program,” Tabrizia said. “There are a lot of people around here who are living paycheck to paycheck. To be able to have new smoke alarms installed lessens the stress created by the concern over the safety of their families.” To read the Phillips' full story ?? https://lnkd.in/eazsCfii