The holidays are a time for community. I think of the families whose lives have been turned upside down by emergencies.
Here on Long Island, we have seen first-hand the impact that severe weather can have — remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia ravaged the region, displacing dozens of Elmont residents to a Red Cross shelter at New Hyde Park Memorial High School.
Year-round, local volunteers from the Red Cross Long Island Chapter answered the call to help in people’s darkest hours, providing refuge, food, and comfort for survivors of the wildfires in Maui, hurricanes in the southeast, and disasters big and small here on Long Island.
So far in 2023, the Red Cross has responded to more than 200 disasters on Long Island, providing emergency assistance to more than 1,185 individuals across 465 households. These responders are neighbors from right here on Long Island, and we rely on volunteers for 90% of our workforce — to answer the call when people need help after a fire in Islip (3 households, 6 individuals on May 15 and 2 households, 3 individuals on September 11), a fire in Smithtown (1 household, 4 individuals on June 21), and towns just like it throughout Suffolk and Nassau counties.
With no signs of extreme disasters slowing down, we must work together to do more.
Please join us to give comfort and hope by visiting redcross.org. You can also help by becoming a Red Cross volunteer and helping your neighbors through some of the worst days of their lives after a disaster, such as home fires.
It takes all of us to care for one another. During the holiday season, turn your compassion into action for the families who depend on our collective support.
Jose Dominguez, CEO
American Red Cross, Long Island Chapter
