Can’t See the Forest for the . . . . . . . . . . Smoke

by Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Sherry Pilion moved from Georgia to California four years ago to care for her aging mother. As they were looking for a home that would accommodate the two of them, a local woman, who recognized how loving and caring Pilion was to her mother, offered them her … Continue reading Can’t See the Forest for the . . . . . . . . . . Smoke

Life’s Most Difficult Season

Story by Cindy Huge, Public Affairs Volunteer Rarely do I cry when interviewing an evacuated resident, but today I found myself shedding a few tears. Life recently for Nina Baetz has been very difficult. Her daughter, who was terminally ill, passed away just a few days prior to the mandatory evacuation orders for the fast-moving … Continue reading Life’s Most Difficult Season

Happy National Dog Day from Team Central California!

Throughout the pandemic, the furry members of the Red Cross kept their families company as they worked from home during safer at home orders. This National Dog Day, we're highlighting the Pups of the Red Cross. Enjoy! Kiba's mom is member of the Disaster Services Team. Kiba kept their family comfort as Megin responds to … Continue reading Happy National Dog Day from Team Central California!

Community Partners in Action

by Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Dwayne Levingston has been serving with the Victims Chaplain Association for the past 10 years. One of the many hats he wears is to provide a portable shower unit to residents affected by disasters such as wildfires and earthquakes.   When Victims Chaplain Association received word from the local Red Cross that their shower unit was … Continue reading Community Partners in Action

Caring for People and Communities

by Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Margie Manning knows firsthand the devastation a wildfire can bring. In 2016, the Erskine Fire swept through the neighborhood where Manning and her husband lived. They quickly evacuated with their pets and sought shelter with the American Red Cross. “There were several hundred people in the shelter and even … Continue reading Caring for People and Communities

“We felt safe in the Red Cross shelter”

New members of the community evacuated by the French Fire share their experience By Cindy Huge, Red Cross Public Affairs Volunteer Their retirement life and long-time dreams of living in the mountains came to an abrupt standstill, for Danny and Li Mullinax, when a call came from their neighbor that their home was under an … Continue reading “We felt safe in the Red Cross shelter”

Tears Are Contagious

by Dave Wagner, Public Affairs Volunteer - Photos by Scott Dalton, Red Cross “My husband was at work when the first warnings came in,” explained Michelle Scott. She frantically began to pack the bare necessities as the fast-moving Dixie Fire bore down on her home in Lake Almanor. She gave her son, nine-year-old Gavin, a … Continue reading Tears Are Contagious

Why I Volunteer: Meet Debra Rohatsch

Story and photos by Cindy Huge/Red Cross Public Affairs Debra Rohatsch loves to swim daily in her community pool, and that is where she met a new friend and neighbor who volunteers with the American Red Cross.  As the two women swam and talked, Debra became more interested in working with an organization that helps … Continue reading Why I Volunteer: Meet Debra Rohatsch