Category Archives: Homepage posts — Featured

National Award Recognizes Local Disaster Responder 

Posted on by

By Alex Keilty, American Red Cross Volunteer 

How does one American Red Cross award recipient know her volunteer work is helping people?

Jody loading up a trunk with free smoke alarms

“It’s the look of relief when someone realizes they have a safe place to go, when a family gets the help they need to take their next step, or when someone who has lost so much realizes they aren’t facing it alone,” Red Cross Volunteer Jody Kimbrel says. Jody has seen that relieved expression on people’s faces countless times while responding to 70 major disasters, including Hurricane Helene and wildfires in Maui and California.

In recognition of her efforts, Jody was awarded the Bob Hassmiller Excellence in Disaster Services Award in Washington, D.C. in April this year. This national level award celebrates a volunteer who has made a significant, positive impact on the American Red Cross, the community and the people we serve in the areas of disaster preparedness, response, or recovery.

Read more

Training Kicks In: Capitola Police Sergeant Honored for Saving Child’s Life 

Posted on by

By: Dave Sieburg, interim executive director of the American Red Cross Central Coast Chapter

Capitola Police Sgt. Scott Newton receives the American Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action at a Capitola City Council meeting. Newton is joined by fellow department staff and 911 dispatchers, who also received a proclamation from the mayor of Capitola recognizing their roles in the lifesaving response.

When Capitola Police Sgt. Scott Newton responded to a priority call in the Opal Cliffs area on March 31, he didn’t know he was about to face a moment that would stay with him long after the emergency was over. 

As Newton arrived in the area, a woman ran from a residence and flagged him down. He followed her inside and found her 11-month-old granddaughter unconscious and not breathing after choking on an object. The child’s mother was performing CPR while receiving instructions from a 911 dispatcher.

Read more

In the Wake of a Devastating Fire, A Furry Friend Brings Hope and Comfort

Posted on by

By: Julie Uiterwijk, American Red Cross volunteer  

When Sam Cisneros and Natalie Shimizu adopted Nori, they had no idea how much they would need her.  

The couple brought Nori home about a week before a massive six-alarm fire destroyed their Foster City, Calif. condominium on August 2. The fire severely damaged the Spinnaker Cove complex, displacing more than 150 residents and leaving Sam and Natalie among the many people suddenly without a home or most of their belongings.  

Natalie and Sam with their rescue dog, Nori.  

Soon after the fire, the American Red Cross set up a Local Assistance Center in Foster City to connect families affected by the fire with local resources. Sam and Natalie benefited from the partners and community members who offered support, including the Peninsula Humane Society where they had adopted Nori before the fire.   

Read more

Firefighter, EMT and First Aid Trainer: Saving Lives Through the Years

Posted on by

By: AnnMarie Kornele, American Red Cross Volunteer 

His father is a firefighter, his mother is a nurse, and his brother worked both as a firefighter and a nurse. You could say that saving lives runs in Steven Bradley’s family. So it’s no surprise that Steven himself has had a long career as a life saver.

Steven is a second-generation firefighter from Fresno, Calif. Growing up in a family with a strong background in public service inspired him to pursue a career in firefighting. After graduating high school, Steven attended the Fresno Fire Academy and worked as an EMT before becoming a firefighter. He got his first job at the Madera County Fire Department working several years before relocating to San Diego with his wife, a California Highway Patrol (CHP) Officer, after she received her first duty station there. While she worked as a CHP officer, Steven worked for the San Diego Rural Fire Department.

Whether as a firefighter, EMT or Red Cross instructor, Steven is always helping people in their time of need.

Unfortunately, tragedy struck when Steven’s wife was injured from being hit by a drunk driver while on duty, forcing her to end her career with the CHP early.

Read more

9/11 Anniversary: After Decades of Deployments, One Experience Shaped Them All

Posted on by

By: Jill Feldon, American Red Cross volunteer

Diane St. Denis has deployed more than 30 times over 31 years with the American Red Cross, helping people in the aftermath of terrible floods, hurricanes, tornadoes and wildfires across the country. But nothing affected her more than her volunteer experience at the World Trade Center following the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.

“It was really the first time I truly understood that what we do makes a difference in people’s lives,” said Diane.

Diane St. Denis has worked as a nurse and volunteered with the American Red Cross for more than 30 years, helping people following disasters of all kinds. But she said she never understood the difference she makes with the Red Cross until her experience after 9/11.
Diane St. Denis has worked as a nurse and volunteered with the American Red Cross for more than 30 years, helping people following disasters of all kinds. But she said she never understood the difference she makes until her Red Cross experience after 9/11.

Twenty-five years ago today, the American Red Cross responded to the tragedy by helping people around the country and the world. More than $1.1 billion in generous donations were used to fund massive relief and recovery efforts and help more than 59,000 families affected by the terrorist attacks. The Red Cross held blood donation drives, served millions of meals and snacks, opened dozens of shelters for people who were left stranded and connected countless people to emotional support and health services. It was one of the largest disaster responses in history – made possible thanks to volunteers like Diane.

Read more

One Year Later: Resilience (and Romance) in the Wake of Devastating Disaster

Posted on by

By Barbara Wood, American Red Cross volunteer

Polina Ken searches through the ashes on her property. She saved almost nothing from the flames because she was outside watering down her home when she was told to evacuate, jumping in her car with only her phone and the clothes she was wearing after trying unsuccessfully to find her dog, Waldo.   

What happened to Polina Ken one year ago on September 2, 2025, when a lightning-sparked fire turned her Chinese Camp home and almost everything she owned to ash and mangled metal, might lead some to self-pity.  

Not Polina, who as a Cambodian refugee has had to rebuild her life from scratch more than once.   

“I’m tough. I do anything to survive. I don’t give up,” Polina said after the fire.   

Read more
« Older Entries