By: Betsy Calderon
As floodwaters tore through communities across the Hill Country, Jessie Garcia watched the devastation unfold from afar. Knowing families were facing unimaginable challenges, she answered the call to serve and traveled to San Antonio to help those impacted by the floods.
A volunteer with the American Red Cross for more than 11 years, Garcia is a member of the Coastal Bend Chapter based in Corpus Christi. She primarily serves in Latino Engagement and sheltering roles, combining her passion for helping others with a commitment to ensuring everyone has access to support during times of crisis.
For Garcia, serving with the Red Cross is about more than providing assistance. It's about helping people find hope during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
“It’s helping people and helping them eliminate some of the pain they go through,” Garcia said. “We see the pain they're experiencing, and we try to help them understand they're not alone. We're here to help in any way we can. That's rewarding to me.”
One of the areas Garcia is most passionate about is serving Spanish-speaking communities affected by disasters.
“When we go out there and help people, especially those who don't speak English, we translate and explain why the Red Cross is there,” Garcia said.
She understands that many Spanish-speaking families may not be aware of the resources available to them following a disaster. Garcia works to bridge that gap, ensuring they know help is available and that they do not have to face recovery alone.
“We'll always be here for you, and if there is a way we can help, we will,” she said.
Garcia remembers her first deployment, as if it was yesterday. She recalls meeting a young woman who had survived a hurricane and lost everything. The woman arrived at a shelter wearing oversized donated clothing and shoes too big for her feet. Naturally, overwhelmed by her circumstances, she couldn't stop crying.
“She came in with this big old muumuu on, way too big for her, and size 13 gold tennis shoes,” Garcia recalled. “She was crying.”
So, Garcia decides to go up to her and ask her for her name. And the young woman couldn’t stop crying but she tells her name. Garcia then goes and gives her a big hug. Wanting to comfort her, Garcia shared her own story.
“Don’t be crying. I have cancer and they sent me here. God sent me here to see you, to meet you. You know what, I should have been dead a long time ago. I got cancer in 2005, and I should have been dead five years after I got diagnosed. And look here we are now.”
The young woman listened quietly.
The next day, she returned to the shelter a different person.
“She came in and said, ‘Hi, Miss Jessie. May I sweep the floor?’”
From there, the young woman began helping around the shelter, cleaning and assisting wherever she could.
“I saw what came out of that, and it was so beautiful,” Garcia said. “I felt so proud that we could help her. That's one I've always kept in my heart.”
Experiences like that remind Garcia why she continues to answer the call to serve.
“Anything to help people,” she said. “I love talking with them. That's my specialty. I love meeting people, and if I can help in any way, I'll be there for them.”
Through her years with the Red Cross, Garcia says she has learned lessons that extend far beyond disaster response.
“The Red Cross taught me how to be more humble, how to be compassionate, and how to listen to people,” Garcia said. “We think we don't have very much, but we're very blessed to have what we have. The Red Cross taught me that.”
Garcia’s role in this Disaster Response Operation was helping set up a shelter at George West Junior High School for residents displaced by flooding.
The shelter offered a safe place for people to rest, receive meals, and connect with caring volunteers during a difficult time.
“We hope people come here,” Garcia said. “They can get three meals a day, snacks, water, and a place to lay their head and get away from everything they're going through. Most importantly, we're here to listen and help in any way we can. We're here to tell them it's going to be OK.”
Jessie encourages others to put on the red vest, serve their communities, and make a difference in the lives of people facing difficult times.
“Please become a Red Crosser,” Garcia said. “It is very rewarding. You'll meet so many wonderful people, and you'll help people in ways you never imagined. They will touch your life in a different way.”
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