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Neighbors from One Coast Helping Neighbors on Another
Written by
Kelly Taaffe
, Special to Redcross.org
Monday, October 31, 2005 — Five credit union employees left their Southern California homes on Sept. 21 to volunteer for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief operations, and returned home three weeks later, each deeply affected in ways they never would have imagined.
Employees of CoastHills Federal Credit Union in Southern California volunteered to support the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief operations in the Gulf Coast region. The volunteer team is joined here by CoastHill's President/CEO Jeff York, center. The team, from the top-left, included Steve Brown, Matt Landre, Seanna Ochoa, Pat Butler, and Christina Becker. (Photo Credit: Scott Coe, VP Marketing/CoastHills Federal Credit Union)
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Leading the CoastHills Federal Credit Union crew was Steve Brown, community relations and business development. Living their company’s purpose statement, “Making a difference in our neighbor’s lives,” they broadened their concept of neighbors all the way to Louisiana.
“I went to the Red Cross knowing I wanted to physically help out,” said Brown. “I knew that the Red Cross was the main one for that. There’s definitely unity there. You’re a team, all there for a purpose.”
Along with coworker Marla Hernandez, Brown manned phones for the Red Cross information hotline in Washington, D.C. With a team of caseworkers, he helped verify damage and recommend appropriate assistance for storm victims. The Red Cross assigned the other CoastHills volunteers including Matt Landre, who is also an EMT in San Louis Obispo, Calif., as well as Christina Becker and Seanna Ochoa to various cities in Texas. While there, each worked at several shelters.
“It is very rewarding when we are able to truly help people,” said Brown. “It definitely makes you realize what you’re made of and tests your limits.”
Jeff York, Company CEO and President, approved the plan to recruit the employee volunteers. A company-wide email prompted responses from about 20 interested individuals. The team was narrowed down to five individuals for business efficiency purposes. According to Brown, senior management made some tough decisions about who to send but their selectiveness paid off.
“When it gets down to the funnel of who actually deploys, the folks who are there are there for the right reasons,” he said.
Brown’s past involvement in community outreach made his genuine desire to help disaster victims apparent. He has volunteered for the United Way, YMCA, Children’s Miracle Network and Habitat for Humanity. He explained that his current job also involves working with non-profit organizations in the county. The rest of Brown’s team shared his perspective on the value of community outreach.
Steve Brown, a Red Cross volunteer and employee of CoastHills Federation Credit Union, says that he takes every opportunity to talk about his experience volunteering for the American Red Cross Hurricane Katrina relief. Seen here sharing his story with local media, he shares the magnitude of what he saw and experienced. (Photo Credit: Scott Coe, VP Marketing/CoastHills Federal Credit Union)
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“I am so glad that we are here and really able to help people and make a difference,” teammate Hernandez said during her deployment. “I feel this is such an important job, and you really have to care about the service you are providing. I am having an incredible experience.”
While working in the call center, Brown perceived a strong sense of comradeship among Red Cross staff. “Tragic calls,” as he called them, came in from people stuck in difficult or dire situations, such as having no place to fill their car tanks to get out of the disaster area.
“It’s a test for how strong a person is emotionally, and it makes you appreciate life and what’s important,” he said. Despite dealing with so many victims’ dilemmas, he would recommend volunteering during a disaster to anyone.
Brown said that he felt he had inspired friends and family back home to think more seriously about recovery efforts. A local newspaper published his emails sent home during his deployment, and another put his story on the front page. When people approach him because of publicity, he sees it as a chance to share the magnitude of what he’s seen and done, and Brown said that motivated him the most was his heart for serving others.
“Honestly, it’s a matter of being passionate about helping people,” he concluded.
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