Mimi Teller/American Red Cross

When Morgan Cohn first signed up to volunteer with the American Red Cross during the 2025 Los Angeles wildfires, she was responding to a disaster unfolding in real time. But her connection to the mission began decades earlier, rooted in one of her earliest memories.

When the 1994 Northridge earthquake displaced thousands of Angelinos, Morgan's family was among those who evacuated their home and sought refuge in a Red Cross shelter. Morgan was just 3 years old. More than three decades later, she can still recall pieces of that morning.

"The earthquake is my earliest memory," Morgan said. She remembers the violent shaking, her mother rushing into her bedroom to get her and the two of them finding her older brother fast asleep in his bed beneath a pile of tumbled books.

The family eventually made their way to a Red Cross shelter. According to Morgan's mother, amid the disruption and uncertainty, Morgan reached an unexpected milestone there: She became fully potty trained while residing in the Red Cross shelter.

Years later, as wildfires forced thousands of people in Altadena and the Palisades from their homes, Morgan found herself on the other side of the shelter experience. What began as a desire to help during the 2025 wildfire response grew into a deeper commitment to serving people facing some of the most difficult days of their lives.

Most recently, Morgan could be found at a Red Cross shelter supporting residents displaced by a fire that tore through a 60-unit apartment complex in East Hollywood just days earlier. With all the building's units uninhabitable, the shelter became the only home for many of the displaced residents.

In the wake of disasters, Red Cross shelters provide more than a safe place to stay. People affected by disaster can receive meals, snacks and water, health services, emotional and spiritual support, information about recovery resources, casework assistance and other support to help them begin rebuilding their lives.

That experience continues to shape how Morgan interacts with people affected by disaster, especially children.

Morgan said children's hardiness often stands out to her, but she makes a point of helping them maintain a sense of normalcy amid the uncertainty of shelter life. Sometimes that means making sure a video game is available for a child seeking a welcome distraction. Other times, it means tracking down specific toys and comfort items for children and families staying in shelters.

“They're so resilient, but I still find myself going out of my way to make sure that kids can still feel like they're kids when they are at the shelter," Morgan said. “Whether that is making sure [a video game] was set up or finding specific things, especially toys, for different families. It puts things into perspective and makes me want to show up in any way that I can to make sure families feel safe and supported.”

While the occasional shelter toddler may still be mastering potty training, Morgan is always ready to help people displaced by disaster with whatever they need.

Decades ago, Morgan took one of her first steps toward independence in a Red Cross shelter. Today, she's helping people take their first steps toward recovery after disaster. Any small act of support can have a lasting impact. Join the Red Cross as a volunteer and help provide comfort, care and hope for people facing their darkest days.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides comfort to victims of disasters; supplies about 40% of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; distributes international humanitarian aid; and supports veterans, military members and their families. The Red Cross is a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to deliver its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or CruzRojaAmericana.org, or follow us on social media.