“I want to help people.”

“I want to pay it forward.” 

“I feel it is my duty to help.”

Red Cross volunteers have many reasons for leaving their homes, families and friends to help people in need. 

And the response to Hurricane Michael has been no different.

Disaster responders from every state and Puerto Rico have stepped up to bring comfort and compassion to the people most affected by Hurricane Michael. They have also been joined by volunteers from Canada. 

Some volunteers have been deploying for years.

Others are discovering for the first time the immense sense of satisfaction volunteers have when they go home. 

Public Affairs Officer, Guy Lepage, with the Canadian Red Cross, spoke with volunteers from across the union about what motivates them and what they take home with them.

“I believe in the mission. I absolutely believe in the mission. I believe we do good work and also satisfying a basic need of mine to do this.” – Elizabeth Bispo, Texas. 

“Because it give me joy to take care of the clients to meet their needs. I helped a lady get a new residence. She was homeless for 15 years. I gave her a tent and a cot and a sleeping bag. She was so happy. That’s what keeps me coming back.” Royle “Ed” Scarborough, Deleware.

“I had a history of colliding with semis and walking away without a scratch so I believe I have to pay it forward.” Duane Ruffner, Colorado. 

“It is an incredible experience to help people and it keeps you humble and it keeps you grateful for what you have because we see what can happen in a blink of an eye. You can lose everything in a matter of minutes. And I love helping people when there is a need, and there is a big need out there.” Tara Lund, Illinois. 

“I absolutely loved the first deployment and I recognize there is a need in this country that has not been addressed and I decided to go ahead and offer my services.” Rachel Weber, Alabama. 

“I saw that on the news that a lot people needed help so I said I am going to go here to contribute my time to the American people.” Calvin Lee, Kansas.

“To fulfill my heart and to help people out.” Dena McMillan, Kentucky. 

 “This is my fifth deployment in a row and I am always here to help because whenever there is a need we go out and there is a need here.” Mike Tripodi, New York.

“This is fifth deployment in two years. I was last deployed in North Carolina and came here because there a need here as well. And I am doing this to help out the people and give something back to my country.” Peter Schubert, Massachusetts. 

“This is my first opportunity to work in a shelter and it is more of a one-on-one with the client and solve their issues and really get to know them in every aspect so we can help them even better.” Ben Desa, Missouri.

“We all need to go and help each other and when something this big happens, we need to help a lot of people.” JoAnna Thompson, Idaho. 

Nearly 2,500 disaster responders have deployed since Hurricane Michael made landfall on October 10. 

And everyone has their own reason to help.