By: Winston Henvey

When a fire displaced residents of the Mariposa Park Apartments on Aug. 25, Chino Gregory was ready to help at the R.D. Evans Community Center, where he works.

Gregory, a community center aide and longtime youth sports coach, supported shelter operations alongside community partners and the American Red Cross. Although the fire did not affect his own home, he immediately stepped into a role supporting neighbors in need.

Supporting residents during emergencies is not new for Gregory. This is the fourth emergency response where he has seen the Red Cross partner with the city of Fort Worth to support residents.

"I've always been a huge advocate of volunteering," Gregory said. "In fact, that's how I got introduced to the city, as a volunteer coach. I coached youth sports for the city as a volunteer for ten-plus years."

That commitment to service has carried over into the current response to the apartment fires. While the community center normally operates from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and offers programs for seniors and the broader community, staff members have adapted to meet the needs of shelter residents.

"When this happened, everybody was flexible and understanding," Gregory said.

As residents adjust to temporary shelter life, Gregory and his colleagues have helped create a welcoming environment. He described the overnight shifts as relatively calm.

"At nighttime, it's been quiet," he said. "During the day, it's been adventurous."

Even the pets staying with residents have settled in. "They've been quiet, actually," Gregory said.

For Gregory, serving others during a disaster feels like a natural extension of the volunteer work that first connected him to the community.

"This is in my wheelhouse," he said. "It's nothing new."

As the response continues, community partners like the Presbyterian Night Shelter, Partnership Home, the City of Fort Worth Neighborhood Services and R.D. Evans Community Center help ensure that residents have a safe place to stay and a welcoming face to greet them during a difficult time.