By the time Hurricane Helene made its way through western North Carolina, the American Red Cross had already mobilized its volunteers and resources to be in position to best help those affected by the storm. As the reality of the devastation grew, the Red Cross was in position to respond to this disaster for the long haul. To do this, Red Cross volunteers from all over the country and the world deployed to NC to lend a hand.

Zoey King (pictured 3rd from the right) traveled 7,727 miles from the small island of Tinian located in the Northern Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean, which is a part of the Pacific Islands Region. She has been a volunteer in multiple positions for 6 years, but this was her first trip to America.

Back home King first started with the Red Cross because she wanted to “help and connect” with people. She has served in several roles including working with typhoon response and relief efforts and mass care including feeding, sheltering and shelter resident transition casework – also known as SRT.

When she arrived in NC three weeks ago, she once again began volunteering with our SRT team, helping shelter residents move out of the shelter with a plan to a more long-term housing solution.

“This job is very rewarding,” King says, “but at times it can be challenging.” She recalls helping one Asheville resident who lost his home in the storm and decided he wanted to move back to his family in Mexico City. King worked with the man to make sure he had all the paperwork he would need to travel, and then personally booked his ticket for his trip.

But no matter how long the days may be, and how hard she may need to work to help transition individuals and families out of our shelters, King claims she “never had a bad day.”

We would like to thank Zoey, and the nearly 2,300 volunteers who traveled from all over to come and support the residents of western North Carolina during this difficult time and long into the future.