This Hispanic Heritage Month, the American Red Cross South Florida Region celebrates the generations of Latino volunteers whose dedication to helping others has become more than tradition, it’s become a way of life. These individuals remind us that service is more than a role. It’s a calling, rooted in love, leadership and legacy.

For Red Cross volunteer Pete Suarez, service is something deeply tied to heritage and something that connects not only past to present, but people to people.

“Language binds us in strong terms,” Pete shared. “It defines heritage and culture. When you walk through an airport in a foreign country and you hear your mother language, you get a gooey feeling inside. Furthermore, if you recognize an accent from your area, you will most likely approach that person and introduce yourself.”

That emotional connection, whether through language, shared experience or cultural values, continues to inspire Pete’s work with the Red Cross. He reflected on growing up in a neighborhood where “every adult watched out for every kid,” and recognized how those same values shape the way he gives back today. Pete carries forward the idea that “community can be defined as two people or millions of people.” His role, he said, is to help identify those needs and help fulfill them.

Heritage is more than history, it’s how we show up for others. From his Cuban roots to his experiences across different parts of the U.S., Pete has seen how geography and community shape our ability to support one another. He recalled a conversation with a Cuban woman in Nebraska who had to stitch her husband’s wound herself because they lived far from medical help.

“On the land, there are immense distances between towns… individuality becomes a necessity,” Pete explained. “In smaller countries, especially in urban areas, one can depend on neighbors.” It’s this mix of resourcefulness and community care that fuels his passion for service. It’s also a value he sees reflected in the Red Cross every day.

“One of the things that I love most about the Red Cross is the fact that we serve everyone equally, without distinction, and we reinforce that principle among our staff and volunteers,” Pete said. “As I look around, I see people striving to act with a certain interdependence rather than not dependency or codependency, but a team attitude where we can count on one another.”

From disaster relief and blood donation to community preparedness education, Latino volunteers across the nation have transformed compassion into action. Their stories remind us of a powerful truth: “Service is in our roots, our hearts, and our homes.”

This Hispanic Heritage Month, the Red Cross invites you to celebrate and continue that legacy.

“I see my job at the Red Cross as an opportunity to help my community,” Pete said. “When we give back, we build stronger communities and inspire the next generation to do the same.”

Be Part of the Legacy. Join Us. This Hispanic Heritage Month, we celebrate the generations of Hispanic and Latino volunteers who have turned compassion into action and service into tradition. Their stories remind us that when we give back, we build stronger communities and inspire the next generation to do the same.

Join the American Red Cross and help us create a more inclusive, compassionate and empowered future where every voice matters and every story is celebrated.

Get involved today at redcross.org/SFLvolunteer and make a lasting impact in your community.