Painted faces and laughter took over the courtyard at the North Collier Shelter in Naples, FL, as families celebrated Halloween with American Red Cross staff and volunteers. Children as young as two months old were dressed in costumes and in the Halloween spirit, although this year looked a little different than normal.  

Jackie Lawson-Durward, a Red Cross Service Associate, along with several other Red Crossers, hosted a series of events for youth who were unable to participate in traditional spooky festivities after being impacted by Hurricane Ian. Jackie, who is also a schoolteacher from San Diego, California, organized arts and crafts, a parade, and trick-or-treating for families so that one of the most popular holidays in the country was not completely forgotten. “We do this to bring a sense of normalcy to their lives. We’re doing this to make sure that we don’t let seasons and celebrations that are important in our lives pass us by no matter the circumstance.”

Naples native Joseph Sanguedolce, who also dressed up for Halloween, has worked as security at North Collier Shelter since a few weeks after it opened. While his focus is to provide a safe environment for families who have been impacted by Hurricane Ian, he has found inspiration to become a Red Cross volunteer. “All the Red Cross volunteers have gone above and beyond to make sure this place is the most comfortable, everybody’s getting along, and everybody’s fed”, says Sanguedolce. “If I wasn’t doing this, I’d absolutely be a volunteer at a shelter.”

The American Red Cross is continuing to assist hundreds of Florida residents that have been affected by Hurricane Ian. To learn more about what we are doing, visit redcross.org. If you or someone you know is interested in becoming a volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteer.

Written by Jerrica Williams, American Red Cross Public Affairs