Red Cross honors its volunteer heroes and asks everyone to be a hero for people in need by becoming a volunteer, giving blood, and learning skills that save lives

During March — which U.S. presidents have proclaimed as Red Cross Month for more than 75 years — the Red Cross honors its volunteer heroes and asks everyone to be a hero for people in need by becoming a volunteer, giving blood, learning skills that save lives, or donating on Red Cross Giving Day (March 25).

“We are proud to honor our volunteer heroes who are there day and night to help families who have experienced emergencies,” said Barry Porter, Regional CEO of the American Red Cross Serving Eastern North Carolina. “Whether it’s saving a person’s life with CPR, donating lifesaving blood or comforting a family after a home fire or other crisis, these dedicated individuals are making an extraordinary difference to ease people’s suffering each and every day.”

Read this year’s proclamation from President Donald J. Trump declaring March as Red Cross Month, an annual tradition started by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1943.

redcross.org/givingday to #help1family who has lost nearly everything to a disaster in the U.S. Your gift can provide hope and urgent relief like food, shelter and other essentials.In fact, every eight minutes, someone affected by a disaster in the U.S. is helped by donations to the Red Cross. Last year’s weather was so severe that Red Cross volunteers — many who answered the call to help more than once — worked with partners to provide more than 300 days of emergency shelter for families displaced by disasters across the country.

Any donation makes a difference — and are key to saving lives because they fund nearly 100 percent of Red Cross disaster relief activities. For example, a gift of $95can provide a family of three with a day’s worth of food, including breakfast, lunch and dinner, plus blankets and other essentials.

HOW YOU CAN BE A HERO On March 25, Red Cross Giving Day, donate at redcross.org/givingday to #help1family who loses nearly everything to a disaster. Your gift can provide hope and urgent relief like food, shelter and other essentials. Donations are key to saving lives because they fund nearly 100 percent of Red Cross disaster relief activities.

You can also visit RedCross.org/ENC to make an appointment to donate blood or platelets, register for a class in lifesaving skills like CPR and First Aid, or become a volunteer for opportunities needed in your county, including:

Disaster Action Team Member: When a disaster like a home fire displaces a family from their home, trained volunteers respond to ensure that they don’t face it alone. As part of a team, help local families by wrapping a blanket around their shoulders, addressing urgent their needs like food and a safe place to stay, and connecting them with recovery assistance.

Home Fire Campaign Volunteer: Want to spend a rewarding day teaming with fellow volunteers to help local families in need? Install free smoke alarms and help residents create home fire escape plans through the Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has saved hundreds of lives.

Blood Donor Ambassador: Are you friendly and outgoing? Red Cross Blood Donor Ambassadors ensure that blood donors have a pleasant and fulfilling experience from the moment they arrive at a blood drive to the moment they leave.

OTHER WAYS TO HELP Visit redcross.org to learn how to get involved:

Give blood: Make an appointment to donate blood or platelets to save lives.

Learn lifesaving skills: Register for a class to learn first aid, CPR and other skills.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.