What a busy time for local American Red Cross shelter volunteers! Earlier this year, volunteers in Silicon Valley, Calif., had to set up not one, not two, but FIVE shelters in one week!
Volunteers aced their test to get staff and supplies to a shelter site on time. Photo by Mike Seeley
It all started on February 26, when the volunteers underwent a test to see if they could set up three shelters simultaneously within a certain timeframe. They had to get enough staff and supplies to three locations to shelter 100 people at each for one night. This annual disaster simulation is part of a national campaign to ensure our communities are prepared for unexpected emergencies. The Silicon Valley volunteers did great and scored 95 percent and higher on all aspects of the test.
Before they could even celebrate their accomplishment, two days later on February 28, a real emergency occurred. The Fire Department in Santa Clara urgently evacuated an apartment complex due to structural issues and it was deemed unsafe for occupancy. The Red Cross responded immediately and set up a shelter so residents didn’t have to sleep in their cars.
The American Red Cross is widely known to respond to disasters caused by home fires across the nation – but what about preventative action?
All the tools and assets necessary for a Sound the Alarm event. Photography by: Pooja Klebig | American Red Cross
As part of the Home Fire Campaign, the Red Cross does not only seek to aid communities in home fire recovery, but also in the necessary steps that lead to home fire prevention. By installing free smoke alarms in residential neighborhoods and educating communities about home fire safety, Red Cross chapters ensure a holistic approach to protection is enacted. As of today, the Red Cross, alongside local fire departments and community partners, has installed 1,128 smoke alarms in 459 homes, creating a safer space for 1,502 residents across the Northern Coastal California Region.
Vanir team ready to head out to install smoke alarms for community members in Richmond, Calif., for Sound the Alarm. L to R: Project Directors Santiago Harris and Cymbre Potter, Construction Manager Tierra Andrews, and Senior Project Manager Laurence Maller
On a cool Saturday morning in Richmond, Calif., a group of colleagues from construction management company Vanir traded hard hats and project schedules for clipboards and smoke alarms. They were part of the American Red Cross Sound the Alarm campaign, installing free smoke alarms and sharing fire safety information in at-risk communities.
But for this team, the day was about more than just service. It was also about connection.
“The satisfaction of knowing you helped someone through their toughest time is worth it.”
Conner Hunter
By Sarah Borcena, Red Cross Volunteer
Conner Hunter began volunteering with the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team in November 2025, joining a growing wave of Gen Z volunteers stepping up to help people in crisis. Across the country, Gen Z now represents the largest and fastest‑growing segment of the Red Cross volunteer workforce, bringing empathy, flexibility and a strong sense of purpose to communities when help is needed most.
For Conner, volunteering had always been important, but joining the Disaster Action Team offered a meaningful way to put service into action. He was motivated by a desire to support people during some of their most difficult moments and to make a tangible difference when emergencies disrupt everyday life.
Stock photo illustrating Disaster Action Team response
Within his first few months, Conner responded to several local emergencies, including his very first call in Tulare, California. A broken waterline at an apartment complex had forced a family from their home, leaving them suddenly displaced and uncertain about what would come next.
As a new volunteer, Conner initially observed the disaster response process, learning how Red Cross volunteers assess urgent needs and offer immediate support following an emergency. He helped gather the family’s information so the team could provide financial assistance and arrange safe accommodations. This moment became his first glimpse into the impact the Red Cross makes in times of crisis. Watching the family regain a sense of stability helped Conner see firsthand how timely support can ease overwhelming situations.
Another experience soon reinforced Conner’s commitment to service. During Christmas, he put his own holiday plans on hold to respond to a fire in Plainview, California. While the call required personal sacrifice, the experience left a lasting impression.
“The satisfaction of knowing you helped someone through their toughest time is worth it,” Conner shared. The moment deepened his understanding of what service can look like, especially during times when families are already facing loss and uncertainty.
For many Gen Z volunteers like Conner, flexibility and willingness to step in when needed are part of what makes their contributions so impactful. Whether responding to local disasters, supporting events or assisting families after emergencies, young volunteers are helping ensure communities don’t face crises alone.
Conner’s journey reflects a broader movement of young people choosing purpose‑driven service. When asked what he would say to someone thinking about joining the Disaster Action Team or another Red Cross role, his advice is simple:
“Make sure your heart is in the right place. If it is, the experience will be incredibly rewarding. It’s not about getting recognition. It’s about being there when people need you the most.”
As Gen Z volunteers continue to answer the call, stories like Conner’s show how compassion, commitment and a willingness to serve can make a real difference — one response at a time.
JOIN US Are you passionate about helping others and leaving things better than you find them? Join our team of changemakers who are working together to make a real impact. With a wide range of volunteer opportunities available, there’s a role for everyone. Get involved today and be part of the solution. Visit here for more information.
On the first Earth Day in 1970, twenty million Americans gathered to protest pollution and industrial waste. No one was using the term “climate crisis” yet, but the biggest pollutants of all—greenhouse gases—were just beginning to take their toll.
Since then, the concentration of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere has risen from 325 to 430 parts per million, a powerful measure of how much the climate has changed in just over five decades.
Now we see the effects every day: The American Red Cross is responding to nearly twice as many large disasters as it did a decade ago.
17-year-old Edward Kuan is presented with the Red Cross Certificate of Extraordinary Personal Action on April 11, 2026, at the Emeryville Sound the Alarm event.
Emergencies don’t wait for the perfect moment.
They can happen without warning, in the middle of an ordinary day, at home, surrounded by family.
But what happens next often depends on one thing: whether someone nearby knows what to do.
For Edward Kuan, that moment came unexpectedly. At just 15 years old, his actions made the difference between life and death.
