A trip to the beach nearly turned deadly for Monique and her family. Their 4-year-old son, Bryar stopped breathing almost drowning until Alesha Truini swooped in to save the little boy. She used lifesaving CPR training she had just learned the day before.

Pinellas County resident Sondra Martin became trapped inside her Dunedin home when a tornado touched down. Red Cross volunteers helped to assess the damage and provided Sondra with financial assistance, comfort and support to move forward.

When Luz Russell, a Florida resident and Colombian native, received the call to respond to Hurricane Beryl from the Red Cross, she did not hesitate to say yes. Russell retired a year ago and knew she wanted to spend her time helping others.

Cynthia Knettel and her dog, Eddie, are staying at an American Red Cross shelter after Hurricane Milton devastated their Florida home. She has lived in St. Petersburg, Florida for over 53 years and has never seen a hurricane like Milton.

“The program is important because it started as a grass roots effort which focuses on the community,” said Glama Carter. “We identify the needs of the community and talk to local organizations to see what they need to become more resilient.”

In July, USVI volunteer Clovis Tang deployed to Texas after Hurricane Beryl. Clovis serves as a disaster services technology specialist who helps ensure our field teams are equipped with technology to do their jobs.

On June 10, 2023, the Tampa Bay Rays baseball game against the Texas Rangers became more than just a game. A heroic fan, Janie Morales, helped to save the life of a fellow fan who went into cardiac arrest at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg.

At Patrick Space Force Base in Brevard County, a dedicated group of more than 50 Red Cross volunteers works alongside military personnel to support the 45th Medical Group Satellite Pharmacy and Clinic.

The Red Cross and the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. - South Atlantic Region teamed up to teach nearly 100 sorority members how to perform CPR and other essential first aid skills.

Red Cross Donut Dolly Mary Jo Shenk shared her story at a meeting of the Angels, a support auxiliary group. It was her job to bring “a bit of home to the combat zone” — and compassion and comfort when service members needed it most.

During her deployment, Dr. Sonia Bhatia reflected on the impact of her two decades of service. She finds fulfillment in the lives she's touched, thinking deeply about the transformative nature of humanitarian work in times of crisis.

Tony Bombin, a long time Englewood resident lost his home after Hurricane Ian made its way through Florida. He found comfort and care at an emergency shelter operated by the Red Cross, which provided hope for the long road to recovery ahead.