The sound of fire trucks and sirens coming down the street was not unfamiliar to twin sisters Michelle and Melissa. They grew up in a family of volunteer firefighters, so from a very young age, they remember going to their small-town fire station in Erie, Pennsylvania, and preparing meals for the firemen with their mom. Their house also served as the firemen’s routine coffee stop on their routes. Little did they know this would serve them well as adults.

In the fall of 2017, Michelle Peck remembers scrolling through Facebook when a friend’s post caught her attention. Her friend announced that she had completed her training for the American Red Cross and would start deploying as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) member. Disaster Action Teams are the frontline workers for Red Cross. They respond to disasters, primarily to families who have experienced a home fire. This includes going to a disaster scene with a Team Leader or other volunteer and working face-to-face with clients to provide them with emergency relief supplies and recovery assistance. After doing some research, Michelle’s curiosity was peaked. She signed up, began her training, and started as a volunteer in October 2017.

Melissa Colosimo, who learned about this opportunity through her sister, also felt this was a perfect fit. She had been searching for a way to help her community. Knowing that she’d be able to help families who had lost everything in a house fire was her heart. She joined the Red Cross the year after Michelle.

Since then, Michelle, who serves in the Tampa area in Central Florida, and Melissa, who serves in the Florida Gulf Coast to Heartland Chapter of South Florida, have been a part of several calls in which they worked hand in hand with the fire department helping families who have just lost everything.

Melissa said, “One time, I got called at 11 pm, and the firemen were still there. Since this family lost a pet in the fire, one firefighter put the pet in the back of his truck. The firefighters were amazing. The family was out front when I arrived, but they were sitting on the ground. They couldn’t leave the scene because the firefighters still needed them there. I came up to the family and hugged them, and then sat on the ground with them. It makes you feel good that you’re making a difference in someone’s life who has lost everything.”

Michelle has had similar experiences. Her first call was one she will remember forever. There was a house fire, and unfortunately, one of the family members passed away. Michelle worked with the police to help the family. By the end of her shift, she was able to help the family with a hotel, clothes, and other necessities. Since these calls can be difficult, Michelle said, “One thing that makes this possible is that the American Red Cross offers disaster mental health services. They provide the support you need as a volunteer.”

Considering Volunteering?

When asked what they would say to someone who was considering volunteering, they both said, “do it!” They continued by saying, “invest the time to do it because it is very rewarding. The time you put in is worth it in the end.” Both sisters not only have been on disaster scenes but also have helped with the Sound the Alarm Campaign, which works with local Fire Departments to install smoke alarms in local communities in the region.

Melissa said, “[As American Red Cross Volunteers] We are their [the clients] glimpse of hope. We are their next step in their recovery. We show up on their worst day and help guide them out of their confusion and loss. We show up, letting them know that we are there to help them. Even if it’s small, it’s something.”

If you are looking to serve your community, like Melissa and Michelle, why not become a volunteer with the South Florida Red Cross? Whatever your interests or skills, there’s a volunteer position in the Red Cross that’s perfect for you. To learn more, visit redcross.org/sflvolunteer.

Written by Christine Perry