Felipe Borrego, Pikes Peak Chapter, Colorado Springs, Colo.

I am a retired electrical engineer. After Hurricane Katrina struck the Gulf Coast, I saw an advertisement for Red Cross volunteers in the local newspaper. I filled out an application and became a “mass care” disaster volunteer.

(Photo: John Memmer)

After attending some training sessions and a few meetings, I participated in my first disaster relief operation—a blizzard in Eastern Colorado near my home. I found myself the only Red Cross worker in a shelter with about 80 people, as all the roads were closed and no one was allowed to travel. Fortunately, the mother of a family stranded at the shelter was a Red Cross volunteer in her home state, and she helped a great deal.

Last year, when we had a power outage near my home that lasted more than a week, I helped distribute food and water from a Red Cross emergency response vehicle. I saw several families standing off to the side of the road, so I walked over and started talking to them in Spanish. I learned they were reluctant to come forward because of the language barrier, and I assured them the food was free and they were welcome to eat.

It was then I realized I could help with my bilingual skills. When the Pikes Peak Chapter asked for people to give disaster preparedness talks, I signed up. I gave my first talk in Spanish to a group of families attending a local church. It was a little more challenging, but I found I could make a difference.

 Read more "Why I Help" stories
 Read about the 2008 American Red Cross ad campaign, "Change a Life"