Training Fellow Volunteers with a Listening Ear

December 18, 2025

Proud volunteer and grandpa Kevin Austin (right) with his grandaughter Hazel (left). Kevin is one of nearly 200 Red Cross volunteer emergency medical responders who provide first aid along the Pasadea Rose Parade route, ready to assist spectators with injuries or health concerns. (Photo courtesy of Kevin Austin).

Emily Hache/American Red Cross

Kevin Austin’s American Red Cross journey began a decade ago at the Pasadena Rose Parade, where he volunteered as an emergency medical responder. Amid the excitement of his first assignment, a simple exchange caught his attention—a mother pointed to the Red Cross logo on Kevin’s shirt and told her young son, “If you ever need help, find someone wearing that.” For Kevin, those words became a powerful reminder of what the emblem represents: trust, safety and hope when it matters most. “That kind of hooked me into working with the Red Cross,” Kevin laughed.

For many new volunteers in the Red Cross Los Angeles Region’s Northern Valleys Chapter, the first welcoming face they meet is Kevin’s. As a recovery lead and a seasoned disaster response trainer, Kevin teaches other volunteers how to meet the needs of the diverse communities we serve.

Through this work, he helps ensure that families impacted by disaster feel heard, seen and valued.

When the LA wildfires broke out, Kevin was unable to deploy because his own home was threatened. His daughter, who lives in Sierra Madre, evacuated from her home for 10 days. Once the danger had passed, Kevin led recovery efforts over several deployments. He supported shelter resident transition across LA and served as a recovery manager and client care chief. After the shelters closed, he continued supporting Angelenos through hotline work, casework and long-term recovery support.

One of Kevin’s most important roles is training his fellow volunteers. He has taught everything from shelter resident transition to mass casualty response. Some of his most meaningful work is with the Incident Care and Condolence Team, who specialize in providing support for those who have lost a loved one in a disaster.

For Kevin, the greatest reward of being a Red Cross volunteer is the connection: meeting people he otherwise might never have met, hearing their stories and helping them navigate whatever challenges they face.

“I appreciate just sitting down and talking to people we support" Kevin said. "If I can be smart enough to be quiet and let them talk, they usually have a very good story. I always tell my new caseworkers that the best resource we can give people is just listening to them.”

To join volunteers like Kevin in this important work, go to redcross.org/volunteer to get started.

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.