Red Cross Central California Blog
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer At 5:22 am on a Friday morning in mid-April, the Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) was notified that the Oxnard Fire Department was battling a structure fire in a large house on the edge of town. Within minutes, volunteer Thomas Gorden, the Dispatcher/Duty Officer, had two members of … Continue reading Providing Safety, Comfort and Hope
It’s National Volunteer Week, a time for the American Red Cross to recognize the individuals who make our humanitarian work possible each day. We are so proud to celebrate our volunteers' commitment to serving others. The hard work that our volunteers give day in and day out to our mission is nothing short of amazing. … Continue reading American Red Cross Celebrates Our Local Heroes, Our Volunteers
By Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Retirement brought a new challenge for Jim Hankinson in the form of what to do with his time. After much reflection which included thinking back to his time as a youth and his parents stressing the importance of helping others, Jim began the journey of finding a … Continue reading Turning Compassion Into Action – Meet Jim Hankinson
By Lucca Lorenzi, Red Cross Volunteer, Cover Photo by Mimi Teller As a transportation logistics volunteer, Chris Murphy has been 'behind the wheel' at several disasters to help ensure safety for nearly two decades. In 2004, Murphy and his wife discovered the Red Cross at an Escapees RV Club event and were introduced to the … Continue reading Red Cross Volunteers Fuel Our Mission – Meet Chris Murphy
Did you know home fires are the most common disaster in this country? Home fires are the most common disaster in this country and are so dangerous that they claim more lives in a typical year than all natural disasters combined. Tragically, seven lives are lost each day in the U.S. to home fires. To … Continue reading Sound the Alarm to Save Lives: A Campaign to End Home Fires
By Dan Santos, American Red Cross Volunteer Now and then, Red Cross volunteers take an indirect path to helping others in need. Bill Beebe was thirsty. He was in Florida in 2020 for his grandmother's funeral. "I went to the store and there was a display next to the 12-packs of Mountain Dew for Team … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: ‘It woke something up in me’
By Dan Santos, Red Cross Volunteer Garrett Mizuo has been to many disaster scenes in the past as a volunteer with the American Red Cross. He's helped victims of hurricanes, wildfires and mass shootings, but he wasn't quite ready for what he saw after a monstrous tornado tore through western Kentucky last December. A tornado … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Unforgettable Experiences
Lori Wilson, Executive Director of the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter, recently returned from Bowling Green, Kentucky where she spent more than two weeks serving the communities devastated by the December Tornadoes. At the Red Cross, we keep stories that impact us close to our Red Cross vests. We like to call them our … Continue reading Hope Can Make All the Difference; Executive Director Reflects on Her Kentucky Tornado Deployment
By Abby Oldemeyer, Public Affairs Volunteer Like many people that find their way to the American Red Cross, Shirley Bahr started searching for a way to give back to her community after she retired. Having already seen the positive impact the Red Cross had within her own community, she applied and began volunteering in 2017. … Continue reading Why I Serve: Meet Shirley Bahr
Cynthia Fisher, middle, with Ashley Bonnoit, left, and Jennifer Samaritan at the French fire in August 2021. By Dan Santos Most people try to avoid the scene of a disaster. Cynthia Fisher — like many American Red Cross volunteers — sees an opportunity to provide safe shelter, food, and comfort to the victims. “I’m living my best life when I can help somebody get their life … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Helping Others, ‘It’s a Beautiful Thing’
Red Cross Central California Blog 