United Way Partner Program:
Disaster Cycle Services / Home Fire Campaign
The Disaster Cycle Services program and Home Fire Campaign highlight the interconnections between preparedness, relief, and recovery to build longer-term, sustainable outcomes.
Our Home Fire Campaign seeks to decrease injuries and loss of life from home fires by installing smoke alarms, sharing disaster preparedness information, and helping families create a fire escape plan. We provide youth education programs to K-5 students in local schools to build skills in disaster safety, preparedness, and resiliency. While the Campaign is year-round, our Sound the Alarm event focuses these efforts in April and May each year.
When a fire occurs, our trained Disaster Action Team and responders immediately contact families. They listen closely to identify each household's needs and provide direct financial assistance for emergency needs, including shelter, food, clothing, and other essentials.
Red Cross volunteer caseworkers meet with survivors in the days and weeks after a home fire to build a recovery plan based on the household's needs. They leverage relationships with private and public partners to identify resources and provide assistance that might include completing insurance paperwork, replacing lost official documents, finding a new home, and more. We can provide additional financial assistance to overcome obstacles to recovery, such as replacing lost work equipment, purchasing storage space during home repairs, or covering a first month’s rent or security deposit for relocation.
The Red Cross has an outstanding capacity to mobilize national resources when larger disasters occur, such as flooding, tornadoes, or even wildfires that some Michigan communities have experienced. At the same time, we are a local organization first, already in the community before disaster strikes.
Volunteers comprise 90% of the Red Cross workforce, serving at every level of the organization. In West Michigan last year, 423 volunteers served more than 22,900 hours across all service lines. Based on the Value of Volunteer Time Report (Independent Sector, April 2023), the estimated value of each volunteer hour is $31.80, and the value of these hours is more than $730,000. This volunteer work greatly leverages our donors' investments in our programs. We are grateful for the time and skills our volunteers invest in their Red Cross roles and the dedication and compassion that they demonstrate for the communities we serve.
About Red Cross of West Michigan:
The mission of the American Red Cross is to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
The American Red Cross, through its strong network of volunteers, donors, and partners, is always there in times of need. We aspire to turn compassion into action so that . . .
- all people affected by disaster across the country and around the world receive care, shelter and hope;
- our communities are ready and prepared for disasters;
- everyone in our country has access to safe, lifesaving blood and blood products;
- all members of our armed forces and their families find support and comfort whenever needed; and
- in an emergency, there are always trained individuals nearby, ready to use their Red Cross skills to save lives.
Founded in 1881, the Red Cross today serves in the following areas:
Biomedical Services: Our Biomed Program provides nearly 40% of the United States blood supply. Last year, 20,914 volunteer donors gave a total of 19,458 units of lifesaving blood at 728 Red Cross blood drives held in West Michigan.
Disaster Cycle Services: Our U.S. Federal Charter delegates to us responsibilities to maintain a system of domestic and international disaster relief. Last year our disaster teams responded to 247 home fires, 11 weather disasters, and three transportation incidents in West Michigan.
First Aid: The Red Cross delivers lifesaving health and safety skills through First Aid/CPR and Water Safety courses. More than 11,700 West Michigan residents participated in Red Cross training last year to build their capacity for preparedness and emergency response.
International Services: The American Red Cross works alongside sister Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies to respond to disasters around the globe, build safer communities, eliminate measles, and prevent the spread of infectious diseases.
Service to the Armed Forces: Last year, our Service to the Armed Forces program in West Michigan provided 241 case services to help 125 military members, veterans, and their families prepare for and cope with the challenges of military service. Our assistance includes emergency communications, support for wounded warriors and veterans, and facilitating access to community resources.
