By Taylor Poisall

The children laughed as they danced together, filling the room with music and energy.

For American Red Cross Executive Director Caedy Minoletti, the celebration offered a welcome moment of joy after weeks spent helping communities recover from two powerful typhoons that struck Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands within months of one another.

"Witnessing the children in the shelter laugh, dance and play together made my heart swell with joy and my eyes swell with tears," said Minoletti. "I have fallen in love with the people of Guam and consider this an experience of a lifetime."

Minoletti deployed to Guam twice in 2026 following Super Typhoons Sinlaku and Bavi, serving in several External Relations leadership roles that connected communities with resources and strengthened partnerships during the relief and recovery efforts. This year also marked her first experience supervising others on a major disaster operation, a role she found especially rewarding.

Working alongside local responders and colleagues from across the Red Cross network, she helped support isolated communities, establish service locations and connect families with medical care, emergency food, financial assistance and critical supplies.

One day, an outreach team learned about a young family living in a remote area whose home had been destroyed by Typhoon Bavi, the strongest storm to ever hit the island. Working with community partners, the team arranged transportation to a Red Cross shelter before nightfall.

"The family, including small children, were able to enjoy a meal and a shower before getting some much-needed sleep," Minoletti recalled.

The storms left many families facing severe flooding and extensive damage to their homes. Farmers also suffered significant losses as crops and barns were damaged, creating additional challenges for island communities that rely heavily on imported goods. During the response, Red Cross teams worked closely with local organizations and military partners to support residents, military families and veterans affected by the storms.

Beyond the response work, Minoletti said the people she met left the greatest impression.

"The people of Guam are among the most welcoming, compassionate and resilient individuals I have ever met," she said. "Despite facing significant challenges, they remained deeply grateful for support and often focused more on the needs of their neighbors than their own."

She found that same sense of service among local Red Cross teams and community leaders who shared their knowledge of the island, welcomed her into their communities and remained committed to helping their neighbors recover.