American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region Volunteers Providing Help and Hope to Tornado Impacted Communities

Eleven volunteers supporting areas affected by this weekend's severe storms in Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

Pennsylvania, December 15, 2021 - Eleven volunteers from across the 61-county footprint of the American Red Cross Greater Pennsylvania Region have deployed to support Red Cross relief efforts following the devastating tornadoes and severe storms that have impacted Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Tennessee, and Kentucky.

These volunteers will join more than 120 others already on the ground in providing help and hope to affected communities. They will serve in varying roles, dependent upon their Red Cross training including logistics, reunification, health services, sheltering, disaster mental health, and feeding operations.

Among the deployed volunteers:

• Thomas Gormley of Ephrata Central Pennsylvania Chapter
• Melinda Rosario of Harrisburg Central Pennsylvania Chapter
• Elizabeth Carter of Erie Northwestern Pennsylvania Chapter
• John & Jane Hoopingarner of Tamiment Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter
• Kenneth Quigley of Phillipsburg, NJ Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter
• Denise Zahn of Allentown Pennsylvania Rivers Chapter

The Red Cross is working around the clock across multiple states to help those in need and make sure everyone has a safe place to stay, food to eat, critical relief supplies, emotional support and comfort in the face of one of the most devastating tornado outbreaks in years.

Red Cross teams will also support disaster assessment for storm-damaged homes and property in affected communities to determine the types of support people may need in the coming days and weeks. It is anticipated that the Greater Pennsylvania Region will deploy additional volunteers to support these relief operations.

The Red Cross provided approximately 200 additional blood products to hospitals in response to these devastating tornadoes. We remain in touch with our hospital partners throughout affected areas and stand ready to provide additional blood products as needed. We also anticipate Red Cross blood drives in affected communities may be canceled or experience lower donor turnout in the coming days, further challenging an already historically low blood supply.

While a local blood donation may not directly help people affected by tornadoes this past weekend, having a stable blood supply ready in the event of a disaster, is imperative. To donate, please go to RedCrossBlood.org to find a drive closest to you.

You can help people affected by disasters by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your donation is a commitment to helping people in need, and every single contribution matters - enabling the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to, and help people recover from disasters big and small.

To make a financial donation or schedule an appointment to give blood or platelets, visit redcross.org or call 800-RED CROSS. You can also us the Red Cross Blood Donor app or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 gift today.

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 visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.