Hurricane Dorian - Volunteers From Across U.S. Lend a Hand

Patrick and Geraldine Riley, married for 63 years, hold hands at the St. Cloud Senior Center shelter in Osceola,FL. They came to the shelter to escape the expected high winds and torrential rainfall of Hurricane Dorian. The shelter at the senior center is for residents of Good Samaritan Retirement Village. It is operated by the Osceola County Health Department, supported by the American Red Cross. - Red Cross photo by Daniel Cima

Red Cross volunteer Teddy Rhamy shares a few minutes with Philomena DeNardo, a 91-year-old shelter resident at the St Cloud Senior Center. Teddy, a resident of Comanche, Oklahoma, deployed to Florida to assist people in the path of Hurricane Dorian. In the four years Teddy has been a Red Cross volunteer, he has deployed to more than 20 disasters. “My wife and I always deploy together. It’s great, I think more Red Cross people should do it,” said Teddy. - Red Cross photo by Daniel Cima

Red Cross volunteer Bob Wallace chats with Virginia Marciniak, a shelter resident at the St Cloud Senior Center. Seeing his Red Cross vest, Virginia offered a hand and took great delight in sharing with Bob that she grew up in Minneapolis, Minnesota and attended Clara Barton Elementary School, named after the founder of the American Red Cross. “Her picture was everywhere,” said Virginia. “They told us all about her … she was really a remarkable woman … I bet no one else in here can tell you a story like that,” said Virginia with a smile on her face. Although she was residing in the shelter, Virginia retained an sense of humor. “One of the nurses here, one named Jane, has a vest with ‘Nurse Jane’ on the back followed by ‘Disaster Relief.’ I think that could be a great TV serial,” she said with a chuckle. - Red Cross photo by Daniel Cima

Lindsay Stroh, Red Cross volunteer, plays a game with 2-year-old Antoine and 7-year-old Tessiyah at the children’s play area of the Red Cross evacuation shelter located at Edgewater High School near Orlando, FL. Tasharay, the children’s mom, seems to enjoy the game as well. Tessiyah said that her family had just moved into the Orlando area and needed to find a safe place to avoid the high winds and torrential rain expected from Hurricane Dorian. “Everyone here has been super nice. The children look on it as an adventure. If they are happy, then I’m happy,” said Tasharay. - Red Cross photo by Daniel Cima

Red Cross volunteer Tom Quinn plays a vigorous game of catch with some of the younger residents of the evacuation shelter located at Evans High School, Orlando, FL. Tom started volunteering as a disaster responder with the Red Cross about 5 years ago after retiring from an engineering position with Goodyear. Last year he deployed for three weeks to Saipan. “I love working in shelters and helping people,” he said. - Red Cross photo by Daniel Cima