Washington, DC - The American Red Cross is making it easier than ever to give a meaningful—and enduring—gift of support, strength and hope to someone in need this year. Thanks to the 2015 American Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog, you can get started on your holiday shopping list by “purchasing” a symbolic gift that supports a Red Cross service, and then sending a greeting or electronic card to announce the gift to the person you’re honoring with your donation.

“Being able to offer help by giving something that means something is a wonderful feeling, whether it’s supporting a family who’s lost everything to disaster or providing comfort to a wounded member of the military returning home,” says American Red Cross President and CEO Gail McGovern. “We wanted a way to pass that feeling on to the generous donors who support our vital humanitarian services through gifts of blood, money and time. The Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog enables both the gift-giver and the receiver to experience the joy of giving this holiday season.”

Throughout the Red Cross Holiday Catalog are heartwarming stories from just a few of the thousands of people who have received help from the Red Cross. Available in print and online, the catalog provides a diverse list of symbolic gifts, for a wide range of budgets, that illustrate in a tangible way what a donation in honor of a loved one, colleague or client can mean to someone in need.

• A donation of $15 can provide blankets—as well as warmth and a sense of security—to three people staying in emergency shelters, while a $25 contribution can show our heroes and veterans that we care by providing military comfort kits to 10 service members.
• A $30 gift can provide a clean up kit to help a family put their lives in order following a disaster while a $50 donation can supply a full day of emergency shelter with urgently needed essentials, including 3 meals, 2 blankets, 1 cot, snacks and personal hygiene supplies for someone impacted by disaster.
• A financial contribution of $100 can educate families and vaccinate 100 children against measles and rubella—a $500 gift can vaccinate an entire village.

These are a few of the most popular items from the Red Cross Holiday Gift Catalog. In addition to the free electronic or greeting cards, donors who contribute more than $100 will receive a Red Cross thank you gift, while supplies last.

To access the catalog online, visit redcross.org/gifts. Choose from the diverse assortment of symbolic gifts, and make a tax-deductible donation online or by calling 1-800 RED CROSS to support the corresponding Red Cross services. Then, send a card to the friend, family member, co-worker or customer being honored by your donation. It’s that easy.

Of course, there are other ways to give too. The need for blood—and volunteer blood donors—is constant and is especially appreciated during the holiday season when hectic schedules and holiday travel or inclement weather can impact blood collection. To make an appointment to give the gift of life by donating blood or learn more about becoming a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org today!

“This holiday season, give something that means something,” says McGovern. “Whether you give money, blood or time—please make a generous donation to help those who are in need.”