American Red Cross

Help Us Reach our $10,000 Goal to Support Disaster Relief and Preparedness in Meridian!

Every day, disasters disrupt lives—and the most common disaster we respond to isn’t a hurricane or flood, but home fires. In fact, home fires claim seven lives daily across the U.S., making them the nation’s most frequent disaster. But there’s hope: working smoke alarms can cut the risk of death by half.

This Giving Day, the Southeast Mississippi Chapter of the American Red Cross is rallying to raise $10,000 to support our Disaster Relief and Preparedness efforts in Meridian and surrounding communities. Your gift helps us respond to emergencies and prepare families before disaster strikes.

What Your Donation Supports:

🔥Sound the Alarm: Through our Sound the Alarm campaign, Red Cross volunteers go door-to-door in at-risk neighborhoods to install free smoke alarms, help families create escape plans, and share fire safety education. Just $22 provides the fire safety training and installation of one smoke alarm to make a home safer. Last year in Lauderdale County, we:

• Responded to 33 home fires (out of 36 total disasters)
• Helped 126 individuals
• Provided $32,415 in direct financial assistance
• We also installed 30 smoke alarms, making 10 homes safer.

🐧Youth Preparedness: Our Prepare with Pedro program teaches children in grades K–2 how to stay safe during emergencies like home fires, floods, and hurricanes. Using a fun and engaging storybook featuring Pedro the Penguin , kids learn how to recognize emergencies, follow safety steps, and build confidence in their ability to respond. This program is especially vital in schools and community centers across Meridian.   

🌪️ Disaster Response & Recovery:  When disaster strikes—whether it’s a home fire, tornado, or flood—the Red Cross is there to provide emergency shelter, food, emotional support, and recovery assistance. Your donation ensures we can continue to be a lifeline for families in crisis.

Why Meridian?

We’re working to make Meridian more self-sufficient and resilient in the face of disasters. By investing in preparedness and education, we can reduce the impact of emergencies and help families recover faster. Together, we can build a stronger, safer community.

Every dollar makes a difference. Whether you give $5 or $500, your support helps us save lives and strengthen communities. Join us in making a lasting impact—donate today and be a part of our lifesaving mission.

🔗 Learn more or get involved: www.soundthealarm.org