by Jodie Abbatangelo

Four years ago, New York City resident Janson Quinlan Prieb made a life-changing decision. Originally from Phoenix, he moved to New York during the uncertainty of the COVID-19 pandemic, in part driven by a passion for stand-up comedy.

“Everyone was making big changes around COVID, so why not,” said Janson.

Today, alongside performing at local NYC comedy venues and continuing his studies in computer science, Janson serves as a volunteer with the American Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT), responding to home fires and helping families during some of the hardest moments of their lives.

Janson first connected with the Red Cross as a blood donor after arriving in New York. Later, while searching for a deeper volunteer experience, he discovered DAT, which he formally joined in November 2025.

He quickly realized he had found something special, saying he “remembers just being hit with, like, ‘Wow, this is it!’”

As a DAT volunteer, Janson helps families affected by home fires and other disasters by connecting them with immediate assistance, including emergency lodging, financial support, and recovery resources.

“You just walk in, and it’s like you’re walking in water most of the time because the fire department hoses it down,” said Janson. “We were just helping people constantly going all around the city, and I remember walking into this one guy’s kitchen and I just see the sky because the roof’s been torn off. I’m right there with him while he’s processing it."

Janson often volunteers for overnight shifts from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., which he finds both exhausting and rewarding. For Janson, that impact is something he carries with him long after the shift ends.

“If I'm meeting a friend or something after my shift, I'm thinking to myself, ‘Oh, you don't know where I was this morning!  While you were in your bed sleeping, I was out at a 14-story high-rise fire in the Bronx setting up a family when there was chaos everywhere,’ and you realize, ‘oh my gosh, my presence here is really helping.’ And that's really cool, you know? It’s a great feeling.”

For him, volunteering is also about connection and purpose.

“So much in our lives can make you feel detached,” he reflected. “In my DAT role, I’ve had great conversations with other volunteers.  Plus, when you’re volunteering, it’s all about that commitment. You’re saying, ‘This is important.’ My commitment to the Red Cross is similar to my commitment as a stand-up comic, I guess. It’s a challenge, but you believe it’s a good thing for others … it’s giving back in the cosmic sense.”

Put on a red vest and join us. Visit redcross.org/volunteer to find out how you can support your community.