“A little bit of physical work and a lot of satisfaction,” is how one American Red Cross volunteer describes his experience distributing emergency supplies after a disaster. It’s a simple description from Marcel Pajuelo-Schwartz, but it captures the heart of the distribution of emergency supplies volunteer role perfectly. The physical work comes from lifting and carrying buckets of essential items, while the satisfaction comes from knowing you have helped people in a real, hands-on way when they need it most.
Marcel, who lives in Daly City, Calif., has been a Red Cross volunteer since 1967. He has tried many volunteer roles over the years but he especially enjoys this one. His efforts to distribute emergency supplies play a critical role in helping individuals and families recover in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. His role is to provide items essential to basic survival, health and sanitation as quickly and equitably as possible to people whose homes and neighborhoods have been affected. These essential supplies may include flashlights, food coolers, buckets, shovels, masks, gloves, cleaning products and garbage bags — everything people need to begin cleaning up their yards and their homes after a disaster turns life upside down.
Michael Gregory (right), Board member and Red Cross Biomedical Committee chair, gave guests including Nivia Charles (left) a tour through a blood lab
Special guests recently got a rare, behind‑the‑scenes look at the American Red Cross blood processing center in San Leandro, Calif., and the visit came with some powerful reminders of why blood donation matters.
“As I am walking in today… you might not have known I have sickle cell disease,” guest speaker and sickle cell advocate Nivia Charles said as she shared her personal story. While her condition isn’t always visible, it’s far from rare: sickle cell disease is the most common genetic blood disorder in the U.S.
For American Red Cross volunteer Jodi Wallace, the call to deploy to natural disasters is a lifelong mission. Most recently, she was one of the many volunteers that deployed to Alaska to aid the thousands of survivors affected by the destruction of Typhoon Halong last October.
Referring to herself as a “Katrina baby,” Jodi has been deploying to natural disasters since Hurricane Katrina. When she first heard the call for Red Cross volunteers on the television and radio, she signed up and began her journey assisting in the shelters.
“I realized that sheltering was really something near and dear to my heart, so I stayed with it. For at least the first 16 years, I predominantly ran shelters as a shelter manager because that is really what I loved and was passionate about,” she said. “For the last four years, I started doing other things, but my favorite is being Mass Care Chief because it keeps me close to sheltering.”
When disaster strikes, Jesús Sotelo doesn’t hesitate — he acts.
Born in Acapulco, Guerrero, México, Jesús grew up in a community where music, faith and service were deeply woven into everyday life. In the 1980s, he and a group of friends formed “Lobos,” an informal volunteer team that assisted people in crisis. Their efforts led them to collaborate with Protección Civil and receive training from the Cruz Roja Mexicana, where Jesús learned paramedic-style skills and embraced a guiding principle: “If there is an accident, you must help.”
Though he didn’t pursue a formal paramedic career, Jesús’ dedication to helping others never wavered. That same spirit followed him when he moved to the United States. What began as a temporary stay became permanent—and so did his desire to serve. Despite language barriers and unfamiliar systems, Jesús found his way to the American Red Cross, applying online and quickly becoming a trusted volunteer at shelters, community events and training sessions.
“You don’t need permission,” he said. “Just ask, ‘What’s next?’ and get involved.”
Jesús’ journey took a challenging turn when he became seriously ill. Hospitalized for two weeks, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer. The treatments were grueling, but his resolve remained strong.
“You have two paths,” he explained. “Surrender or fight. I choose to fight.”
Faith and family became his anchors. His wife and fellow Red Cross volunteer became a pillar of support, and his pastoral studies gave him strength. Even during treatment, Jesús continued volunteering. His service became a source of healing and purpose.
“What you do matters. Even when it’s hard. Even when you’re scared.”
Jesús’ story is a powerful reflection of Hispanic heritage — not just through tradition, but through action. His presence at the Red Cross helps bridge cultural and language gaps, offering comfort and connection to Spanish-speaking communities. He hopes to see more Latinos step into service, not only as volunteers, but as leaders too.
He’s received medals and local honors, but for Jesús, the true reward is knowing he made a difference. He dreams of one day becoming a Red Cross employee and writing a book that shares his journey and inspires others.
“Live in the present,” he said. “This moment is the only life we have. Serving with humility is a powerful legacy. Faith without action is not enough. If you believe, act.”
Jesús didn’t wait for perfect conditions, and you don’t have to either. Whether you speak Spanish or English, whether you’re new to volunteering or have years of experience, your help is greatly needed.
Join Jesús and thousands of others making a difference. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to sign up today.
Shivang visited the American Red Cross National Headquarters in D.C. “When I was in D.C. for the AAPI+ Resources Group convention, I saw how dedicated everyone was. These people were volunteering their own time on top of their actual day-to-day jobs to help support AAPI+ and other resource groups. It made me feel like I was part of a family, not part of a corporation,” he said. Photo courtesy of Shivang Pasi
From holding a cybersecurity internship, to attending a compelling diversity conference in Washington D.C. to becoming an active member of a national resource group, Shivang Pasi exemplifies how one can make an impact in several ways within the American Red Cross in a short time. Shivang is one of over 275,000 American Red Cross volunteers from across the country who has engaged with the organization’s humanitarian mission, though he never expected himself to be this involved when he started.
Shivang’s journey as a Red Crosser began the summer of 2024 when he secured a cybersecurity internship with the organization’s Northern California Coastal Region, which serves more than 10 million people across 15 counties from Monterey to Sonoma. As a current fourth year student at San Jose State University, Shivang was drawn to specialize in cybersecurity because of his love for puzzle solving.
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