By Nancy Aziz, American Red Cross volunteer

On a 70-degree Saturday morning just weeks before Christmas you might expect to find teens relaxing at the mall or maybe even the beach. You might not expect to find them elbow deep in buckets of sudsy water washing cars in a Santa Ana parking lot. Or washing windows. Or pulling weeds. Or cleaning carpets. But that’s exactly how a group of about 40 high students from around Orange County spent their December morning, smiling and laughing as they labored in service at the American Red Cross Orange County chapter.

“This is our annual chapter beautification here,” said Sarah Glauch-Lozano, one of the event’s organizers and a member of the chapter’s youth leadership team. “The OCRC (Orange County Red Cross) Youth Team comes every year to kind of help make our chapter look pretty and shine.” Glauch-Lozano explained the event is a way to give back to the Red Cross as well as a great way to introduce teens to the organization.

“I think it really does make our chapter look amazing, because we have so many amazing events that happen here, like for our volunteers we have a lot of blood drives happen on site. Just making sure the area is clean really helps give back to the chapter, and then also introduces the youth to an entire world of volunteering and of giving back. And a lot of the youth that help here as like, an initial event come back for our blood drives or go to establish blood drives in their own school. So, it really does bring them closer to the chapter, so they're able to become lifelong volunteers and continue to help our amazing community,” she said.

Shray Paliwal, who is also on the youth leadership team, was one of the teens at the event. His focus was on the Red Cross vehicles: cleaning the floor mats, seats, windows, side mirrors, the body, tires, even the rims.

“Well, I chose car washing because I love washing cars. I find it really relaxing. It's a great way to wind down, but specifically the Red Cross in general, I find that it was a great way for me to give back to my community”

Paliwal was introduced to the Red Cross through a blood drive at his high school. He says events like the chapter beautification event help other young people realize what makes the Red Cross so special.

“What makes the Red Cross so unique is one - the family that we have. I mean, you can look over there. Everyone's over there, they're all having fun, no one's alone. There's music, and everyone here is so welcoming, they'll talk to you. (If) you're standing alone for a second, you'll have three people around you, people around you talking about how was your day? What’s your name? What school are you from? And it's just such a welcoming community,” he said. “The Red Cross is so welcoming, and that's what makes it truly unique, and that's why someone around my age, especially trying to make these new friends and lifelong connections, should absolutely join the Red Cross.”

The Red Cross of Orange County currently has about 1600 student volunteers from 63 local high schools. Click here to find out how to get involved in the organization’s youth programs and give back to the community with the Red Cross.