By Anna Kumor, Red Cross Communications Volunteer
You can always count on Linda Carralejo to stay calm in an emergency. For 35 years, Linda was the reassuring voice answering 9-1-1 calls as a dispatcher for the Ventura Police Department. After retiring, she took some well-deserved rest and relaxation before finding her next calling: volunteering.
“I read about the American Red Cross and thought, ‘Oh, I probably would like something like this,’ but there were so many avenues, so many areas that I could have applied for. So what I thought was, I would start at the receptionist position, working the front desk.”
Working on the Front Desk Team at the Camarillo office turned out to be the perfect way for Linda to learn about the many volunteer opportunities at the Red Cross. She met other volunteers, learned about sheltering and pitched in at meetings.
Now, four years later, Linda has worn many hats: front desk receptionist, fund development volunteer, helping with local Sound the Alarm and Ride for the Red events, creating training manuals, and supporting shelter operations. One of her favorite ongoing roles is donor relations.
“I have my hands in a little bit of everything. I continue to process donor checks, which I love. People are so amazing! They can give $5 all the way up to $50,000. It just warms my heart. We have loyalty programs for our donors, where we send thank you packages and impact reports to show appreciation.”
One thing Linda missed during her public service career was building relationships with clients and supporting them through recovery. Volunteering with the Red Cross has filled that gap. She recalls one story from the Mountain Fire shelter that touched her deeply — a 16-year-old boy who looked out for others even as his own family was displaced.
“He would take care of the others who were staying in the hotel, including one of the elderly people. He’d walk them to their room, get them what they needed, and make sure they had food. We’d bring bags of food and he was always there to help.”
Linda asked him, “So what do you miss? What would make you happy?”
The young man replied, “I used to really work out. I used to have my shakes that I would make and I miss my workout equipment.”
Linda sprang into action to put together a gift bag with shaker bottles and protein powder for him.
“He was so grateful that he wrote me a thank-you note. He was so excited! Here was a 16-year-old kid who’d lost everything, and he still had a smile on his face and was helping others. I told his parents, ‘You must be so proud of him.’”
That experience had a profound effect on Linda. She describes it as finding her calling—seeing firsthand the impact of the Red Cross on clients. Going forward, she wants to develop long-term relationships with clients and watch them recover and thrive.
“Now with Red Cross, it’s even more face-to-face contact, where you actually try to develop a rapport. I know I want to take a step further,” she realized. “This is great! This is what I need. This is what gets me up every day.”
Linda is excited about all the Red Cross training available to her. She’s continually learning, growing and fulfilling her drive to serve the community. And as the holiday season reminds us of the power of giving, Linda’s story is a shining example of how compassion and service can bring warmth and hope to those who need it most.
This holiday season, let Linda’s journey inspire us all. Whether it’s volunteering your time, making a donation, or simply offering kindness to someone in need, every act of generosity lights up the world. Together, we can make this season brighter for families facing hardship and create moments of joy that last well beyond the holidays.
Red Cross Central California Blog 