This holiday season, make a financial donation or appointment to give blood at redcross.org
Vermont Business Magazine In 2025, local American Red Cross volunteers became a lifeline for nearly 350 Vermonters reeling from disasters.
In a powerful display of community, 117 Red Cross volunteers in Vermont logged more than 5,600 hours so far this year responding, alongside partners, to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by home fires and other disasters. The Red Cross also distributed nearly $115,000 in financial assistance directly to Vermont households recovering from disasters, including home fires, in 2025.
The need for this support shows no sign of slowing down. In the U.S., Red Cross home fire responses spike nearly 20% during the holidays, when families face increased fire risks such as cooking and heating. Here in Vermont, about 90 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires every year in a typical November and December.
"I am grateful that our nearly 300 volunteers get up in the middle of the night when their neighbor's home is on fire. They are there for every blood drive and there to provide education and support in our communities,” said Sarah Lemnah, executive director, Red Cross Vermont Chapter. “Our volunteers are the heroes behind the Red Cross, and they are the best trained, most loyal, most dedicated volunteers I've ever worked with."
This GivingTuesday and throughout the holiday season, visit redcross.org/nneHoliday to make a financial donation. You can also make an appointment to give blood or platelets. The need for blood is constant — and just like disasters, medical emergencies don’t take holidays.
Also in 2025: How Local Responders Helped Disaster Survivors, Hospital Patients and Military Families
- In Vermont, seven volunteers deployed with the Red Cross (some multiple times) to deliver aid for major disasters across the country, including the L.A. Wildfires; flooding in Arkansas, Kentucky, Illinois, New Jersey, Texas and Wisconsin; tornadoes in Missouri and a typhoon in Alaska. Responding to disasters is a team effort, and as they become more frequent and intense, families are relying on volunteers for support.
- Nearly 12,000 blood donors and 1,350 platelet donors in Vermont helped save lives in the Green Mountains and across the country, including people facing life-threatening conditions like cancer, sickle cell disease, childbirth complications and traumatic injuries. Patients rely on a consistent blood supply to survive and heal — and it’s the blood already on the shelves that helps save lives in an emergency.
- In Vermont, four dedicated Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) volunteers logged more than 650 hours supporting our military members, veterans and their families. These volunteers partnered with several community organizations including Military Kids Vermont, Vermont Lake Monsters Military Appreciation Night, Devil's Bowl Speedway Military Appreciation Night and Thunder Road Military Appreciation Night to raise awareness of free Red Cross services available to the military community. Additionally, the team worked with Josh’s House, in Colchester, to support about 350 veterans and their families through bi-weekly engagement sessions.
Visit Northern New England’s Regional Year in Review webpage for stories about how people from Vermont helped in 2025.
About GivingTuesday:
GivingTuesday is an annual event dedicated to boosting radical generosity, held on the Tuesday after Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Created in 2012 at New York’s 92nd Street Y, the idea behind GivingTuesday was to set aside a single day to give back. Over 13 years, this idea has grown into a global movement that inspires millions of people to donate, volunteer and spread awareness. For many nonprofits, funds raised on GivingTuesday serve as an important kickoff for year-end charitable campaigns.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.
BURLINGTON, Vt., DEC. 1, 2025 — American Red Cross
To support vital journalism, access our archives and get unique features like our award-winning profiles, Book of Lists & Business-to-Business Directory, subscribe HERE!
