SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Responding to disasters is at the heart of the American Red Cross mission – and it’s a team effort. As disasters become more frequent and intense, families are relying on Red Cross volunteers for support. In 2025, local volunteers became a lifeline for neighbors in Southern Missouri, helping communities recover from devastating events.
Last spring, tornadoes ripped through West Plains, Nevada and other parts of the state, leaving widespread destruction in their wake. Today, many communities are still recovering from the major tornado that struck St. Louis, displacing hundreds and leaving countless families in despair.
In a powerful display of community, local Southern Missouri volunteers responded alongside partners to provide safe refuge, hot meals, emotional support and basic health services for families devastated by tornadoes, severe weather, floods, and home fires.
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. Across our Missouri and Arkansas region, nearly 2,000 people rely on the Red Cross after home fires in a typical November and December.
“Disasters don’t take holidays — and neither do our volunteers,” said Lee Eastburn, Executive Director, Red Cross of Southern Missouri. “Thanks to generous donations, they have the resources to deliver comfort, hope and support to help people recover. Through these simple acts of giving, we come together as a community to bring light to a family’s darkest days — right when it’s needed most.”
This holiday season to make a financial donation and read stories about how people from Central and Northern Missouri helped in 2025, visit redcross.org/MOYearInReview.
You can also give back through volunteering, visit redcross.org/volunteer or by making an appointment to give blood or platelets. The need for blood is constant — and just like disasters, medical emergencies don’t take holidays.
How Local Responders Helped Their Communities
- Over 7,600 local blood donors helped save lives in Southern Missouri 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.
- Through the Home Fire Campaign, volunteers installed over 410 free smoke alarms, making 180 homes safer across Southern Missouri.
- Local volunteers and staff supported military and veteran communities overseas as well as at home by sending holiday cards and care packages to veterans and active-duty service members, hosting Resiliency and Coping with Deployment workshops, delivering comfort care packages to veterans and participating in Veterans Day parades to show our support.
- Nearly 10,000 community members in Southern Missouri gained lifesaving skills through Red Cross training in first aid, CPR, and AED.
