Connie Borrego (L), Roxanne Anderson (M) and Liz Dietz (R) serving dinner outdoors.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, or VA, has over 9 million veterans enrolled in its health care system. Veterans often require extensive medical care, which puts a strain on families who don’t live near VA hospitals yet want to be with their loved ones. A core mission of the American Red Cross is to provide humanitarian support to military members and their families and for the past two years, the Red Cross has partnered with Fisher House as a key resource for veteran families during health crises.
From disaster responses to community events, Jeff’s dedication shows how one volunteer can make a profound difference in a short amount of time.
By Cindy Huge, American Red Cross Volunteer
After retiring, Jeff Martin knew he wasn’t ready to slow down. He wanted to do something meaningful — something that would let him give back to his community. After talking with his neighbors, longtime Red Cross volunteers Russ and Cindy Huge, Jeff realized the American Red Cross offered exactly what he’d been looking for: a way to help people on their hardest days.
Jeff jumped in with enthusiasm. Within a short time, he completed training in Feeding, Sheltering and the Disaster Action Team (DAT) in Kern County. Since then, he has responded to more than a dozen DAT calls, including several in rural communities such as Maricopa and Taft.
One call stayed with him. A family had lost everything in a fire and was standing outside in 42‑degree weather with a young child. Jeff remembers how grateful they were when he offered warm blankets.
Jeff pictured with his neighbors at a Sound the Alarm smoke alarm installation event
“I had never seen anyone so appreciative of something so simple,” he said. “It reminded me why this work matters.”
Fellow DAT responder Jim Hankinson shared, “Jeff is a joy to work with. He’s quick to offer water, blankets, whatever clients need. He’s a caring responder.”
Jeff’s willingness to step up extends beyond disaster calls. He joined a Sound the Alarm installation event in Taft, grateful for the chance to make homes safer and meet residents where they live. He also proudly carried the Red Cross banner in the Veterans Day Parade.
“It was a great honor to lead our volunteers,” Jeff said. “Representing the Red Cross that day meant a lot to me.”
His commitment shows up in quiet moments, too. When his chapter held its holiday party in the clubhouse near his home, Jeff arrived three hours early. He cleaned the room, set up tables and even took home the linens to wash afterward — a small gesture that spoke volumes about his character.
Through every response and every act of service, Jeff embodies the compassion and dedication that define the Red Cross mission. His journey is a reminder that one person’s willingness to help can make a profound difference in the lives of others.
For more than half of America’s history, people have cared for one another through the American Red Cross. As the U.S. marks 250 years, we’re honoring those who provide help and hope every day. This National Volunteer Month, we celebrate the volunteers like Jeff who make our mission possible. Learn how to get started as a volunteer at redcross.org/volunteer.
“For me, responding to home fires alongside fellow volunteers is not just a responsibility. It’s an honor.”
Javier Gonzalez
By Javier Gonzalez, American Red Cross Volunteerand Board Member
As a board member of the American Red Cross Kern County and Eastern Sierra Chapter, I have the privilege of seeing our mission from a strategic vantage point — strengthening programs, supporting volunteers and helping guide the direction of an organization that serves nearly a million people across Kern, Inyo and Mono Counties.
But being part of the Disaster Action Team (DAT) brings that mission into sharp, human focus. It’s where strategy meets reality, where compassion becomes action and where the Red Cross promise is delivered to one family at a time.
For me, responding to home fires alongside fellow volunteers is not just a responsibility. It’s an honor.
If you ask Gerald to describe himself, he won’t start with titles, ranks or achievements. He’ll simply say, “I’m just Gerald — someone who cares about people, someone willing to listen and someone who’ll help however he can.”
That’s how he moves through the world: grounded, steady and guided by values instilled long before he ever wore a Marine Corps uniform or stepped into a technology leadership role.
Lives Saved in the Parking Lot: Red Cross Donates Shuttle Carts to Care for Local Veterans
“I truly love the American Red Cross and all of the work they do for our community, but especially the way they serve veterans through the Service to the Armed Forces.” – Mary Golden, VA Central California Health Care System
In a powerful show of unity and commitment to serving veterans, the American Red Cross and the VA Central California Health Care System have joined forces to support America’s heroes.
For over 140 years, the Red Cross has cared for the humanitarian needs of the U.S. military community through every phase of duty, both at home and around the world. Locally, this mission continues through a long-standing partnership with the VA Central California Health Care System, providing comfort and care to veterans, families and their caregivers.
As part of this ongoing collaboration, the Red Cross recently donated four shuttle carts to the VA Hospital in Fresno. These carts will help provide safe transportation for veteran patients and their families from parking areas to the hospital entrance, especially critical during the Central Valley’s extreme summer heat, which poses additional health risks to vulnerable patients.
“These carts truly will save lives in this parking lot thanks to this beautiful donation from the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces.” – Mary Golden, VA Central California Health Care System
Lori Wilson, Executive director of the American Red Cross Central Valley Chapter, and Mary Golden Chief, Center for Development and Civic Engagement (CDCE) at VA Central California Health Care System
“This is so huge for us, and especially our veterans receiving care at our VA. We want them to know when they come on campus that they are safe. We will take care of them, we respect them and we honor them,” said Mary Golden. “By providing this transportation with these new, beautiful carts that hold six veterans at a time, it will be able to provide more services for more veterans and get them safely to the building, especially on hot days in the summer. Veterans can become dehydrated, dizzy, stumble or fall, and we just want to prevent that for them and their guests.”
“Our goal is to prevent veteran falls in the parking lot and throughout the facility with our programs in CDC or voluntary service, and part of preventing falls is preventing the injuries that come with them. If a veteran is over 80 years old and breaks a hip, it can drastically shorten their lifespan,” explained Golden. “These carts truly will save lives in this parking lot thanks to this beautiful donation from the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces.”
Leaders from the American Red Cross Central Valley and VA Central California Health Care System celebrated the special donation in September 2025.
“We have an amazing partnership with our American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces, it’s been strong, and they are committed to the veterans we mutually serve and we work together on all manner of veteran care needs. We work together to serve veterans through fires and storms and other natural disasters and emergencies, and here at the hospital, they provide us with dedicated volunteers to run a number of programs, including the American Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces Hospitality Cart. Our partnership is just one of collaboration and trust,” said Golden.
“As a veteran myself, these types of services don’t go unnoticed,” said Jose Molina, Service to the Armed Forces Program manager. Molina was instrumental in supporting the logistics of the donation of the shuttle carts. “I’m proud to have played a small role in the part of the process that allowed for the donation of the carts for my fellow veterans. For the Fresno VA to be doing this for the veterans in this community, it will truly save lives.”
Every day, brave individuals answer the call to serve in the U.S. Armed Forces. From the beginning of their service and throughout their lives, the Red Cross stands by them, offering a continuum of care.
The Red Cross and VA Central California work together year-round to support veterans through emergencies, natural disasters and hospital-based programs to provide non-medical support. Red Cross volunteers play a vital role, from operating the Hospitality Cart to distributing comfort items and cards on special observances and offering connection to ensure veterans are never forgotten.
“I just feel like we’re family now, and we have been for years,” shared Golden. “I truly love the American Red Cross and all of the work they do for our community, but especially the way they serve veterans through the Service to the Armed Forces.”
American Red Cross volunteers provide warm human interactions at the David Grant Medical Center at Travis Air Force Base. This includes greeting patients and visitors at the front desk, answering phones, and providing directions.
In the white, sterile halls of a hospital – any hospital, let alone one on a military base – you might expect to find expert medical care. But thanks to the American Red Cross, at the David Grant Medical Center (DGMC) on Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield, California, you’ll also find bright, cheery and helpful volunteers.
The Red Cross has a special partnership with the medical center where teens and other volunteers “are able to augment the hospital experience for patients, providing warm human interaction while allowing hospital staff to focus primarily on their medical duties,” says Nikki Rowe, Red Cross director of Service to the Armed Forces and International Services for the Northern California Coastal Region. Nikki has been managing the relationship with the DGMC for several years as part of her responsibilities.
