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Iowa Volunteer Serves Hot Meals and Smiles in Florida
Del McPeak, Special to RedCross.Org
Thursday, September 23, 2004 — Red Cross volunteers work hard, especially Emergency Response Vehicles (ERV) drivers and crews. They load food at kitchen sites and drive into the most devastated areas after a disaster, delivering hot food and compassion.
One of those drivers, Malik Ahmad, arrived in South Florida on August 17th and has extended his Red Cross assignment three times because the need is so great. Ahmad has served residents in the hard hit areas of Punta Gorda and Fort Myers, damaged by Hurricane Charley, and is now on his way to Pensacola to help those affected by Hurricane Ivan.
Malik Ahmad stands with his ERV in Florida after driving it from Iowa to help Red Cross relief efforts. |
Many of Ahmad’s experiences have moved him deeply. He tells of a seven year old girl who came with her mother to his ERV to get food. She wanted milk. He didn’t have any to give her at that time and felt very bad. He was, however, able to give her food and snacks. She then ran into what was left of her house and brought him a gift of a little teddy bear. The true gift that went to his heart was her expression of appreciation. “Teddy Bear Charley” is now an honored member of the ERV crew and like Ahmad will stay as long as needed.
While delivering food to a Red Cross Service Center, he would often talk to and lift the spirits of those who have come to the Red Cross for help. He found an 85 year old man with tears running down his face. The man had paid off his home and thought he no longer needed insurance. Unfortunately he lost his home to Hurricane Charley and now has nothing. Ahmad held him as he cried. Caring is part of being a Red Cross volunteer.
Ahmad is from Waterloo, Iowa where he lives with his wife, Amy. He has been a volunteer for the Hawk Eye Chapter in Waterloo for one year. He came from Pakistan four years ago where he volunteered with the Pakistan Red Crescent Society and hopes someday to be more involved in the International Red Cross movement.
Ahmad is grateful to the American people who give generously to the Disaster Relief Fund so that he and other volunteers can fulfill the promise of the American Red Cross to provide caring relief whenever the need arises.
He is eager to share his experiences as a way of encouraging young people of diverse nationalities to become Red Cross volunteers. He said, “The feeling of worth from helping others is the best experience of my life.”
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