Katie Pippin/American Red Cross
When wildfires swept through Southern California in January 2025, Maria Jimenez watched flames spread across the mountains from her home near the 101 Freeway. Seeing the destruction unfold, she felt an immediate need to help and decided to join the American Red Cross.
“I wasn’t sure where to begin,” Maria said. “All I knew was that I had to show up somewhere, somehow. Once I saw the shelters on the news, I knew that’s where I needed to be. The volunteers and people I met really shaped my love for this work. They guided me every step of the way.”
Since then, Maria has remained consistently involved, taking on multiple roles and looking for ways to be useful wherever help is needed. She serves as a Disaster Action Team service associate, has been training as a Northern Valleys Chapter duty officer, supports blood donation services, and volunteers regularly with the Sound the Alarm (STA) home fire safety campaign—a program that installs free smoke alarms and shares fire safety education with LA’s most vulnerable communities.
As a bilingual volunteer and one of only two Spanish-speaking duty officer trainees in her chapter, she often helps bridge communication gaps and ensures people feel understood during stressful moments.
“I only really knew about Red Cross blood drives before I started volunteering,” Maria said. “But once I started learning more, I realized how much happens every single day. I really love that there’s just as much focus on prevention and preparedness as there is on disaster response, and being able to speak Spanish has helped me connect with even more people.”
Earlier this year, Maria was nominated for a Rising Star award in recognition of her dedication and the impact she’s made across several areas of service. Despite balancing volunteering with a full-time job, she continues to look for opportunities to grow, including stepping into future leadership roles.
Reflecting on her experience, Maria says volunteering has changed how she understands both her community and herself, and she hopes more people take the time to learn about the many ways the Red Cross shows up every day.
You can make a change in your community by becoming a Red Cross volunteer at redcross.org/volunteer.
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.
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