About Us

Greater HoustonArea Chapter of the American Red Cross

The purpose and mission of the Red Cross is to respond to emergencies and help people prepare for and prevent them.  The American Red Cross was established by Clara Barton in 1881.  In fact, she organized relief efforts in Galveston after the 1900 Hurricane.  

The Greater Houston Area Chapter, established in 1916, is one of 25 Chapters in Texas and one of more than 700 in the U.S.  In addtion to Harris County, the Greater Houston Area Chapter provides services to a 16-area counties. Collectively our jurisdicationis home to about six million people. This huge area includes Houston, the country’s 4^th largest city, a long coastline in Galveston and Brazoria Counties, suburban areas, small towns and very rural areas.  To provide services that reflect the needs of such diverse communities, the Chapter has its main headquarters off the Southwest Freeway and 14 branch offices spread throughout the 16-county area.

The Greater Houston Area Red Cross provides four main services:  Disaster Relief and Preparedness, assistance for Military Personnel and their families, Health and Safety Courses and Transportation.  In fact, the Red Cross has a Congressional mandate to provide disaster and military assistance, though it is an unfunded mandate.  The Red Cross relies on financial donations and grants.

While most people think of the Red Cross helping during large disasters such as Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, our disaster services staff and volunteers are busy everyday responding to house and apartment fires, an average of two a day in the Houston area.  For large and small disasters, the Red Cross meets the immediate needs of victims:  shelter, food, bedding, clothing and sometimes essential medications and medical equipment.  All Disaster Assistance is free.  The Red Cross also provides disaster preparedness education to the community and businesses. 

For military personnel, the Red Cross provides the emergency communication link between families and their loved ones in the military and arranges emergency leaves when needed.  For military families in crisis, Red Cross facilitates emergency financial assistance and counseling.

The Chapter’s Health and Safety Department is the ‘teaching arm’ of the Red Cross.  You or a family member may have taken a First Aid and CPR course or Red Cross Swim Lessons or Lifeguard Training.  The Houston Chapter trains thousands of people every year to be safe and to save lives.

 The Houston Chapter also offers low-cost, Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Services to the elderly, disabled or chronically ill in several of our counties.  It’s very difficult for people who can’t drive to get to doctor’s appointments or on-going medical treatments, such as dialysis or chemotherapy.   Red Cross drivers are all First Aid and CPR trained and provide door-to-door service for their passengers.

 For more information about our programs and services, please visit our website, www.houstonredcross.org or call 1-866-526-8300.