“The Red Cross gives people hope during really difficult moments,” he said. “I wanted to be part of that.”
Joshua De La Cruz
By Steve Medina, Red Cross Communications Volunteer
Joshua De La Cruz expected his first day with the Red Cross to be simple.
A quick meeting. A few onboarding questions. Getting to know the staff and volunteers.
Instead, within an hour of arriving at his local Red Cross office, Joshua found himself riding in an Emergency Response Vehicle on his way to help with the Sandy Fire relief efforts.
“Honestly, I thought it was going to be a 15-minute meeting,” Joshua said later. “Then suddenly everybody was moving fast because of the fire response.”
That’s the Red Cross in a nutshell. The mission doesn’t wait for a convenient moment.
Joshua moved to California from Puerto Rico in 2022, but his connection to the Red Cross began years earlier. Growing up, he mostly knew the organization for blood drives. That changed after Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico in 2017.
“We saw how involved the Red Cross was helping communities during Hurricane Maria,” he said. “That’s when I realized they do so much more than people think.”
It’s something many people discover firsthand. Neighbors and friends often picture blood drives when they think of the Red Cross. But when disasters strike, they see volunteers showing up with comfort kits, shelter, and a steady, reassuring presence in moments of uncertainty.
After relocating to California, Joshua completed CERT training in Camarillo. It was there that someone encouraged him to continue his disaster response work with the Red Cross, a suggestion he didn’t forget.
On what was officially his first day as a volunteer, Joshua stepped straight into an active disaster response.
And he embraced it.
“I like the excitement of knowing you’re going to help people who really need it,” he said. “People are scared, confused and looking for answers. Being able to help guide them feels important.”
That sense of purpose is what keeps so many Red Cross volunteers coming back. In the middle of a disaster, even small acts like offering information, providing a place to rest and listening can make a lasting difference for their community members.
Joshua spent the day supporting shelter operations and assisting with community response efforts. By the end, he had experienced more in a few hours than many volunteers do in their first month.
For him, it confirmed exactly why he joined.
“The Red Cross gives people hope during really difficult moments. I wanted to be part of that.”
Sometimes volunteering starts with orientation paperwork.
And sometimes, it starts with responding to a fire on your very first day.
Answer the call this wildfire season
Volunteers like Joshua are needed now more than ever. Be the neighbor who shows up when it matters most. Respond to disasters in your community. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up and learn how you can make a difference.
Red Cross Central California Blog 