Brookings proclaims March 2026 Red Cross Month

Mayor Phoebe Pareda proclaimed March 2026 as Red Cross Month at the Brookings City Council meeting on March 5, reading a city proclamation that highlighted regional Red Cross services and volunteer efforts.

The proclamation credited the American Red Cross and its volunteers in the Cascades region for 145 years of humanitarian service and cited figures given to the council: in 2025 the Red Cross provided relief and recovery to more than 900 households, collected about 166,000 units of blood, supported more than 5,000 service members through aid to the armed forces, and trained over 50,000 people in CPR, first aid, babysitting and water-safety skills. "As we mark Red Cross Month, let's celebrate our local heroes and resolve to continue lifting each other up so no one faces an emergency alone," Pareda read in the proclamation.

A Red Cross representative thanked the council and described local volunteer activities, saying they serve on disaster action teams and respond to fires and other emergencies. The representative said the Red Cross recently set up shelters in Gold Beach and in "Portford" following fires and promoted an upcoming blood drive scheduled for the 21st–24th and a first-aid class at the Brookings Library on April 18. The representative also encouraged residents to download official Red Cross apps to find shelters and use the app's "I'm Safe" feature to notify family during disasters.

Pareda thanked the volunteers for their service and noted the city will coordinate with county police chiefs and other partners to expand smoke-alarm installations and public-safety outreach in the spring.

The proclamation and remarks were ceremonial; no city action was required. The city took a photo with the Red Cross representatives during the meeting.