In 2024, I saw the beauty of the Red Cross mission shine through peers and volunteers who answered the call to help those impacted by disasters. A week after my birthday in October, I was assigned to the Red Cross Hurricane Helene Relief Operation in the Carolinas. Soon after, I headed down to Greenville, South Carolina. I was excited and nervous but overall eager to put my training and experience from the Indiana Region into action to help communities impacted by Hurricane Helene.
For nearly three weeks, I called a staff shelter my home and met incredible people who shared their purpose for the mission. The days were long, but each person’s smile reflected their heart of gold. Our South Carolina Community Engagement & Partnerships team consisted of four disaster workers and every day we were assigned a new task to help meet the needs of the community.
Here are a few moments that I believe highlight the importance of our work:
South Carolina:
Mr. Martinez’s Expression of Gratitude
Mr. Martinez lost his chicken coop during Hurricane Helene, which was a source of food for him, but he was deeply thankful his home wasn’t damaged during the storm. Some of his neighbors’ homes were damaged and debris had fallen throughout the area, so Mr. Martinez jumped into action and chopped up trees that had fallen near the road. He told me the recovery process would likely be a long journey, but he was hopeful the community would come together and find strength again. Plus, the Red Cross was there to help. As my team member and I listened to Mr. Martinez’s experience, he showed us his garden, which was still blooming beautifully despite it all. To show his gratitude for the Red Cross and our work in his community, Mr. Martinez gave us flowers, which we displayed in our Staff Shelter to welcome all as they entered.
One Restaurant’s Commitment to Serve
One of the South Carolina restaurants impacted by Hurricane Helene made it their mission to reopen as soon as possible. The restaurant became central to the community, as the owners provided warm meals to people without power and helped distribute Red Cross information and resources to their customers.
Grace Church Latino Resource Fair
Grace Church hosted a resource fair for Spanish-speaking members of the community, and trained members of their congregation through our Hands-Only CPR and Be Red Cross Ready programs. Church leaders wanted to be better prepared for emergencies to support families, neighbors and church members. It was incredible to share Red Cross services with congregation members in collaboration with the local South Carolina Latino Engagement Team, and to see how the training sparked conversations and ideas on how to further engage their congregation in the community.
Asheville, North Carolina
Red Cross partner Tzu Chi USA Foundation’s Washington Region hosted multiple events to provide support and care to people impacted by Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina. Each of their volunteers embodied kindness in every interaction. As a bilingual Red Crosser, I was deeply honored to support their work by interpreting for Tzu Chi members as they spoke to care recipients. After the second day’s event completion, Tzu Chi members gave us an ornament, symbolizing peace and safety forever and always.
I’m so grateful for my deployment experience and the opportunity to work alongside countless people who raised their hands to help those impacted by disaster. Our collaborations and efforts are an example of how hope and help can make a difference.
Written by Loida Rodriguez, community engagement and partnerships disaster program manager. Edited by Janie Bohlmann, regional communications manager.