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While completing a BA in Global Studies at Ryerson University, Jaskaran Gill began volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross in September 2013. When the chance to volunteer with the First Contact Program came up, it was an opportunity she couldn’t pass up.

See pictures of Wa​lmart Canada's Supporting Families in Need Day on Saturday (June 28th) which took place in Walmart stores across Canada in celebration of 20 years in the country. Walmart Canada held the day to thank its customers for helping to raise money for its charities, including the Canadian Red Cross.

Hundreds of thousands of people in Iraq have needed vital support after the escalation of violence and unrest in the region has forced thousands of families to flee their homes, prompting assistance from multiple Red Crescent societies.

Red Crosser Nicole Robicheau discusses the importance of being prepared when deployed to respond to an emergency here at home or abroad. Here is a Q&A with the international traveler:

Significant rainfall this past week in Saskatchewan and Manitoba has resulted in flooding in several towns and communities, forcing hundreds of residents to evacuate their home. In Manitoba, more flood waters are expected to come from the west in the coming days.

Many people were affected in the Lac-Mégantic disaster, including Réjean Bourque who began volunteering with the Canadian Red Cross from July 6, 2013 when he saw his community in need.

The Canadian Red Cross is a leader in Ontario when it comes to providing community support services, and sometimes we get the chance to pass that knowledge along to other organizations to help build community capacity in the area of health and wellness. The Red Cross had that opportunity recently when the Chapleau Hospital turned to the Red Cross for advice on establishing their transportation program for seniors.

Red Crosser Katherine Mueller was deployed to Sierra Leone to help in the Red Cross response to the Ebola outbreak there; here the Canadian aid worker shares her experiences.