It was late. Kyle sat alone in his barracks in Germany, staring at a message that didn’t feel real. His father was in a Florida ICU, facing triple bypass surgery. Thousands of miles away, Kyle didn’t know what to do. So, he called the American Red Cross.
“They were very attentive and understanding,” Kyle said. “They walked me through everything and even helped me find my staff duty officer’s number.”
Within 72 hours, Kyle was home to drive his dad to the hospital and support him through his recovery. That moment changed how Kyle saw the Red Cross.
“They moved very quickly and made all these things happen,” Kyle said.
Stories like Kyle’s aren’t rare. They’re the heartbeat of the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces program, which helps military families stay connected during emergencies. Whether it’s a hurricane, a health crisis or a deployment, the Red Cross is there effectively and with compassion. Thanks to support from VyStar Foundation, even more families can receive help when life takes an unexpected turn.
A Shelter in the Storm
Destiny remembers the tornado like it was yesterday. Her husband, Jhon, was deployed overseas. Their home outside Tallahassee was damaged, and they had nowhere to go.
“Honestly, we didn’t know what to do,” she said. “A volunteer with the Red Cross told us, ‘Just go there, meet with us, you don’t need an appointment.’ That was such a relief.”
They had just recovered from Hurricane Michael five years earlier. Now, they were rebuilding again. But this time, they had help. The Red Cross made sure Jhon could come home before deploying again.
Since 1881, when Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross, the organization has stood at the center of hope during life’s hardest moments. What began as a small humanitarian effort inspired by the global Red Cross movement has grown into a nationwide network powered by volunteers and donors.
Today, the Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters each year. Every effort is focused on ensuring that people affected by crises receive care, shelter and hope.
One of its most vital programs is Service to the Armed Forces (SAF). Through SAF, the Red Cross supports military members, veterans and their families with services such as emergency communication and resiliency workshops. Volunteers make this possible in many ways. They serve in VA hospitals and military treatment facilities, staff Red Cross offices on installations and help families stay connected when it matters most.
Growing Stronger with Support
In 2024, the Red Cross received a grant from VyStar Foundation to strengthen its Resiliency Program’s workshops by expanding partnerships with external community military and veteran service providers. The impact was immediate.
“We were able to deepen our support for military-connected families,” said Zonnetta M. Thomas, Regional Philanthropy Officer. “This grant helped us grow our volunteer base in Northeast Florida and strengthen our community partnerships.”
Through collaborative scheduling and outreach, the Red Cross reached more military-connected participants across the region. Meanwhile, the volunteer base in Northeast Florida grew. The number of SAF volunteers rose from 92 to 103. The team also delivered 20 Resiliency Workshops, which is well beyond the goal of 12 and served 269 participants.
Military families face unique challenges, and in those critical moments, the American Red Cross is there to provide connection, comfort and hope. The Red Cross ensures that no military service member or family faces hardship alone. With continued support from VyStar Foundation, this mission will continue to grow every day.