Story and photos by Marcia Antipa, American Red Cross Volunteer

Anthony Frank traveled half way around the world, from Saipan, Mariana Island, deep in the Pacific Ocean, all the way to Florida, to help people affected by Hurricane Ian.

The journey took him through Japan to Texas and on to Florida, where he joined more than a thousand other Red Cross relief workers from across the nation in this massive effort.

Frank first volunteered for the Red Cross in 2015 after Typhoon Souledor – a Category 5 super typhoon – slammed into the Northern Mariana Islands, Japan and China. When he learned of the destruction that Category 4 Ian had caused, he arranged for a two-week leave of absence from his job in Saipan and headed for Florida.

“I just wanted to come because, when I was looking at the (images of) devastation, I remembered (the destruction in) Saipan, and I think life has been good to me in Saipan, thanks to the opportunity the Red Cross has given to me,” he said. “So this is my way of coming back and saying thank you.”

Frank is more than qualified to handle any number of volunteer positions, but is happy to join a mobile crew delivering hot meals to residential neighborhoods that now have little access to grocery stores.

“When I look at the destruction, from past experience of course I know that the most important thing now is sheltering and feeding,” he said.  

On his first day, Frank joined husband and wife volunteer team George and Michelle Griner as they circulated slowly through a neighborhood in Fort Myers.The three dished up chicken and pasta, vegetables and rolls for people working hard to clean out flooded homes.

As a mental health specialist, Frank knows people who have been through a disaster don’t always need to talk right away: Their immediate needs may be even more basic.

“A glass of water, a hot meal: That’s stabilizing the stresses that people are experiencing right now,” he said knowingly. “When there’s no hot meals or food, their stress levels are elevated.”

As for the rest of his time in Florida, Frank said, “If they ask me to do anything, I am flexible. Right now, I am just here to serve.”

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