American Red Cross serving Southeast Louisiana

For more than 120 years, the American Red Cross in Southeast Louisiana has alleviated human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Its members offer aid and resources to help neighbors prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies - through education, training and immediate assistance. 

We are there when help can't wait: 

- A family whose home burns is given food, financial support and comfort. 
- A deployed military hero is reconnected with family members in crisis. 
- A neighbor in cardiac arrest receives lifesaving CPR. 

90 cents of every $1.00 spent by the American Red Cross is spent on essential programs and services.

Generous donations of time, talent and treasure allow the American Red Cross to help Southeast Louisiana families prepare for, respond to and recover from everyday emergencies.

In 2024, thanks to the support of local donors and volunteers, the Red Cross:
- Helped over 1,800 Southeast Louisianans overcome everyday disasters like home fires or severe storms.
- Installed 827 free smoke alarms in Greater New Orleans to mitigate the risk of injury and death from home fires.
- Reconnected more than 200 local military heroes with their families during crises.
- Gave lifesaving CPR and water safety training to more than 11,500 of our neighbors.
- Managed or supported 28 emergency shelters for Hurricane Francine, providing 982 overnight shelter stays; served more than 20,000 meals and provided casework for 300 Southeast Louisianans.

The Red Cross also supports our community during Mardi Gras. Volunteers served 2,300 nourishing sandwiches to first responders and behind-the-scenes workers who keep Carnival safe and running smoothly. Red Crossers also worked shifts at first aid stations along the parade route, supporting the City of New Orleans initiative to reduce stress on EMS.

Thank you!

Testimonials

After surviving a fire at his New Orleans home, Dewayne Burch was displaced and uncertain of what would happen next.

American Red Cross volunteers, trained in home fire responses, alleviated some of his concerns - providing financial assistance so that Dewayne could meet his urgent needs.

"They made sure I had money in my pocket for me and my family so that we could get anything we needed to survive during the time I was looking for another apartment," Dewayne said of the Red Cross volunteers who helped. "I was so happy to get something to eat. A lot of my food went bad because the power got cut off, but because the Red Cross showed up and helped out I was able to eat every single day."