In an unusually busy year, the Red Cross helped hundreds of thousands of people impacted by disasters in 2015, both here at home and around the globe. Red Cross disaster workers responded to 176 large U.S. disasters – more than each of the past three years.

The cost of just the four largest of these disasters is more than $30 million – this includes flooding in Texas and South Carolina, wildfires in California and Typhoon Soudelor, which battered the island of Saipan in August; (Saipan is part of the U.S. Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in the Pacific).

Amidst all of these devastating events, home fires continued to be the largest disaster threat in the United States. During 2015, the Red Cross provided casework assistance to help 214,000 people whose lives were affected by a home fire. The Red Cross also helped prevent home fires and related injuries and deaths by working with local partners across the country to install 195,000 smoke alarms and teach 268,000 youth about fire safety.

Whether a disaster affects just one family or thousands of families, the Red Cross of Northeast Ohio is committed to helping people get back on their feet as quickly as possible. But we need your support now to continue providing help to families affected by disasters.

And today – December 17, 2015 – a generous donor will match what you give, dollar-for-dollar, until $50,000. [https://www.redcross.org/donate/2015-holiday-match-gift].

Your support will help our chapters install smoke alarms in susceptible communities, provide fire and disaster safety education to children (and their parents), provide emergency communication for our military members and their families, reconnect families torn apart by conflicts, and  – most importantly – provide hope  when and where it is needed most.

The Red Cross was listed as a high-rated charity on this year’s Consumer Reports Best and Worst Charities for Your Donations list.

You can donate anytime at www.redcross.org/donate, by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-27677), or donate $10 by text-to-give through your wireless carrier (text REDCROSS to 90999)*

* SMS Donation Terms and Conditions

You can make a $10.00 donation to the American Red Cross. Charges will appear on your wireless bill, or be deducted from your prepaid balance. All purchases must be authorized by account holder. Must be 18 years of age or have parental permission to participate. Message and Data Rates May Apply. Text STOP to 90999 to STOP. Text HELP to 90999 for HELP. Full Terms: www.mGive.org/T.