by Olivia Wolf, Red Cross Volunteer

The Red Cross made up of 90% volunteers, answering the call to prevent and alleviate human suffering. In the past six months, more than 240 Red Cross workers, from Oregon and SW Washington have deployed to disasters like Hurricane Helene, Milton, and the Wildfires in Southern California. They come back with so many inspiring stories.

When the Palisades and Eaton wildfires ignited in the Los Angeles metro area on January 7, Red Cross shelter volunteer Holland Golec prepared to deploy at a moment’s notice.

Several Red Cross shelters were quickly established around Los Angeles to house more than 1,000 people whose homes were destroyed by the fires.

Golec boarded a plane on January 26 in his hometown Portland and flew to Los Angeles to assist with Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) 363-25. Upon landing, Golec was driven by local Red Cross staff to headquarters where he received his specific assignment: feeding at the Pasadena Convention Center.

For two weeks, Golec volunteered from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. His primary role as a feeder was to serve evacuees during mealtimes. Between meals, he handed out snacks, cleaned surfaces, and talked with the people in the shelter.

One shelter client who Golec talked to,was a 70-year-old man who was caring for both his brother and his elderly father. His house was lost in the fire, and he didn’t know how to move forward.

“He just looked lost, and my heart goes out to him,” says Golec.

Another was wheelchair bound, and although he had family in the area, their living situation couldn’t accommodate his disability.

“They have just gone through some very bad experiences, and they need some support,” says Golec. “But it’s also sometimes a way of gathering some intelligence that can be used by the Red Cross management to figure out what other resources we can bring to help get these people transitioned out.”

Golec says that from the moment a shelter is opened, job one is to close the shelter. This means that clients are connected to resources and have found another place to live.

“Red Cross never kicks anybody out,” says Golec.

When Golec arrived at the Pasadena shelter, there were over 300 people living in three sections of the Convention Center plus an isolation quarter. By the time he left on February 6, around 100 clients remained.  The others had found other options for housing.

To ensure privacy, only residents and permitted volunteers may access the dorms. Volunteers cannot reveal to the outside public whether a specific person is residing at the shelter. Instead, the Red Cross follows a specific process for reunification.

Evacuees who do not need overnight dorm spaces, can still use our shelter services during the day. Laundry and portable showers were stationed in the corridor. Mental health, spiritual, and physical healthcare workers were also available for clients and volunteers.

To accommodate families, a childcare center was established in the cafeteria, and baby food was available at meals.

During a two-week deployment volunteers get one day off. Golec used this free day to drive a few miles toward the San Gabriel Mountains where much of the devastation occurred. On Lake Avenue, Golec witnessed burn structures and blinking traffic lights. On one block there was only one house standing and, on another block, it was a single wall. Golec talked to several residents who had returned to their houses. A Red Cross distribution point for emergency supplies was stationed in the neighborhood.

Golec recommends that anyone on a two-week Disaster Response Operation visits the site of destruction.

“I think it builds empathy, and you come away a little bit different,” says Golec.

The severity of destruction made the L.A. wildfires a level 7 disaster, the highest level designated by the Red Cross.

Despite this, Golec says this was one of the best DROs he’s been on, in part, due to the strong bonds that he formed with the feeding team. Golec attributes the strong leadership as one of the keys to the team’s success.

“The supervisor was really a good person to work for and gave great direction and just gave us a lot of self-confidence,” says Golec. “She demonstrated by doing.”

Golec has been on numerous deployments during his 15 years with the Red Cross, including one during the 2018 Panama City hurricane and another during the 2024 Chico wildfire.

“In each of the DROs I’ve gone on, regardless of how bad the chaos and destruction is, I’ve always found little nuggets that make me grateful for being a part of this whole process.”

After returning to Portland, Golec took a week to decompress before returning to his local Red Cross duties. He’s taken care to catch up on sleep and keep in touch with his former teammates.

“It was two unforgettable weeks,” says Golec of the experience. “There was awful devastation, incredible giving of volunteers, and some amazing, resilient clients.”

Golec’s story is one of thousands that we hear every year across the country.

All of this work is funded by generous financial donors. We are incredibly grateful to each and every donor. We want to honor our volunteers and donors especially during Red Cross Month which was established over 80 years ago and recognized in the month of March. Read more about Red Cross Month by clicking here.