By Kate Walters, American Red Cross 

Before the chairs were filled and the music began on Sunday morning, a different kind of need arrived at Zeal Church's doors. Families escaping smoke and the cold night air needed shelter right away. In moments, a place of worship also became a place of refuge. 

When a devastating early-morning apartment fire forced dozens of families from their homes at the Montecito Apartments in southeast Colorado Springs, Colo., Zeal Church quickly opened its doors — thanks to training the American Red Cross delivered only three weeks earlier. 

In late October, Red Cross instructors trained 40 members of Zeal's new Emergency Response Team, covering shelter setup, communication procedures and how to work alongside Red Cross responders during disasters. The church had no idea it would need to put that training into action so soon, but on Sunday morning, the call came. 

At 8:55 a.m., just minutes before the first Sunday church service was to begin, Zeal received the urgent shelter request from the Red Cross. 

Zeal volunteer Katie Simon admitted her first thought was disbelief.  

"I did think like, 'Is this a drill or a joke?'" she said. Then it clicked: "We were trained three weeks ago. I said I would do this. Here goes nothing, Lord!"

Sarah Steffesen, director of operations for Zeal Church, immediately sent texts and email alerts to the trained volunteers. Denver Collins, the Zeal Church team lead, began unlocking rooms, clearing spaces and coordinating with Red Cross leadership while simultaneously preparing the building for Sunday services.

"It was really fast how it went through," Katie said with a chuckle. "That’s the crazy thing about disasters; you can prepare ahead of time, but you can't put a disaster on the master calendar. You have to be flexible and willing to change up your plans."

But because of their recent training, chaos never set in. "Everybody knew what to do," Katie explained. "It wasn't like we were afraid or didn’t know what was going on. Everybody was calm." 

When Red Cross volunteers arrived with a trailer full of disaster supplies — cots, blankets, food, and water — Zeal's team was already in motion, guiding residents displaced by the fire inside, arranging space for families and pets and helping transform the church into a welcoming shelter. 

Zeal staff summed up their commitment simply: "We're here to serve our community. Just let us know what you need."

They meant it. Red Cross Mass Care Lead Rich Garcia added with a smile, "I'm pretty sure that if we asked for a built-in swimming pool, they'd put one in for us!"

For displaced families, the collaboration meant immediate safety, warmth, and comfort at a moment when they needed it most. And for the Red Cross, it showcased the true power of preparedness: Training plus partnership plus willingness equaled a community ready to respond. 

The families who came through Zeal's doors weren't left standing outside in the cold — they were welcomed into a space that had been thoughtfully prepared long before the emergency ever began. 

If you are interested in making sure your organization has the skills and confidence to be ready for an emergency, visit the Red Cross Training Services website.