Join a disaster relief organization

“I joined the American Red Cross during the pandemic on August 4, 2020, and immediately got to work helping during the 2020 wildfire season. All of my disaster relief volunteer work to this point was virtual. This was my first in-person experience and it was 36 miles from my doorstep, making it especially personal for me. During the fire, our Red Cross shelter was located in the Dos Pueblos High School gym. The school staff were incredibly generous, and the students were understanding of the situation. I was approached by one of the evacuated residents who was desperate to get access to his property. He said “I was told to come to the Red Cross because you have the power to do something to help me, and I need help right now. My pets are at my house, and I need to get them out.” I connected him with Jessica Hodge, our Disaster Program Manager, and she quickly got in touch with the Sheriff Department who coordinated with him directly to escort him up to save his pets. In that moment, I lived one example of the Red Cross power to bring comfort. My most meaningful moment in the shelter was with our last client, a man waiting on if his home made it in the fire. This is that moment you feel the power of our commitment – One person remaining in the shelter and the Red Cross is there for him. Not knowing if his property was spared, until seeing a social media post image from a local news reporter of his burned boat. A silent glance to each other, words of compassion, and immediately a case was opened to help him.”

“Right after Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 9, I joined a Route Clearance Team bound for Tampa—these hurricane relief volunteer crews are the tip of the spear, the first on the ground, clearing the way for rescue vehicles by removing downed trees and debris left in the storm’s wake. The challenges were many, but so was our resolve. And the gratitude from the people we helped made every ounce of effort worthwhile. In the wake of the hurricane, Florida presented a stark contrast. Some neighborhoods seemed almost untouched, while others looked like a giant hand had swept down, grabbed someone’s entire life—house, belongings, and all—and scattered it along the roadside like an overturned laundry basket. Seeing the devastation firsthand was heart-wrenching, and it made clear just how much people had lost. As a Team Rubicon photographer, I was there to capture the raw emotion and resilience of those moments, but I wasn’t just an observer: I became part of the team. One minute, I was behind the camera; the next, I was hauling branches to the curb or rolling heavy rounds of wood. There was a delicate balance between taking photos and pulling my weight with the rest of the crew.”