Red Cross of Southern Nevada marks 25th 9/11 anniversary with call for blood donors and volunteers

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Marking the 25th anniversary of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, the American Red Cross of Southern Nevada is calling on residents across the state to observe the National Day of Service and Remembrance through blood donations and local volunteer work. The annual day of service honors the 2,977 victims who died in the 2001 attacks by encouraging acts of civic support and community resilience.

Rachel Flanigan, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Southern Nevada Chapter, highlighted how the national response following 9/11 demonstrated the enduring strength of community unity. “The service we saw after 9/11 showed how people can come together when others need help,” Flanigan said. “That same spirit can be seen every day in someone giving blood, responding to a home fire or helping a neighbor.”

Organizers are specifically urging Nevadans to schedule blood donation appointments to help stabilize regional and national supplies following a critical summer shortage. In Southern Nevada, Red Cross teams collected 16,687 units of blood across 709 drives in 2025, followed by 12,463 units collected across 540 drives during the first eight months of 2026. To encourage participation, individuals who give blood between Sept. 1 and Sept. 20 will receive a limited-edition Hello Kitty plush mascot clip and sticker pack while supplies last. Appointments can be scheduled online at redcross.org/GiveBlood, through the Red Cross Blood Donor App or by calling 1-800-RED CROSS.

Beyond blood donations, the organization relies on volunteers for more than 90% of its workforce to carry out emergency responses, support blood drives, teach preparedness skills and assist military families. Local volunteers in Southern Nevada respond to hundreds of home fires annually, aiding more than 8,100 residents and installing thousands of free smoke alarms across more than 1,800 home fires since 2020. Designated by Congress in 2009, Sept. 11 stands alongside Martin Luther King Jr. Day as one of only two federally recognized National Days of Service. Nevadans interested in volunteering can find additional details and applications online at redcross.org/volunteer.