By Becca Rae, Northwest Region

When Hurricane Ian hit in 2022, people lost so much in such a short amount of time: homes, belongings, routines, and the sense of safety that comes from knowing what tomorrow will look like. In the middle of all that devastation, something wonderful also emerged: connection.

Disaster relief work with the Red Cross is never just about handing someone a meal, offering a hug, helping with paperwork, or providing a place to rest. Those things matter deeply, but so do the relationships formed along the way. When people come together to care for strangers during one of the hardest moments of their lives, strangers can quickly become close friends.

This photo reminds me of that.

Three women from completely different places, with different stories, pausing to stand together after serving others. We may have come to Hurricane Ian as Red Cross volunteers, but we left with more than memories of long days and hard work. We left with laughter, inside jokes, shared tears, and lasting friendships built in the middle of a disaster.

There is a special kind of bond that comes from working side by side with people who understand why you are there. You do not have to explain why you are exhausted but still willing to get up the next morning and do it again. You do not have to explain why a simple “thank you” from someone who has lost everything can make you emotional. The people beside you understand because they feel it too.

During disaster response, every person has a purpose. Some prepare meals. Some provide health services. Some listen to stories. Some help families find resources. Some simply offer a smile, a kind word, or a reminder that they are not alone. No role is too small when someone is facing one of the worst days of their life.

But Red Cross volunteers are cared for, too, often by one another.

We encourage each other when the work feels heavy. We share meals after long shifts. We make each other laugh when we need it most. We remind one another to rest, drink water, and keep going. In the middle of caring for a community, we build our own little community.

That is one of the things I love most about volunteering. You arrive wanting to make a difference for someone else, and somehow, you are changed too.

Hurricane Ian brought destruction, heartbreak, and unimaginable loss. But it also brought people together. It created moments of compassion, courage, and friendship that may never have happened otherwise. It showed me that even in the middle of the storm, there can still be purpose. There can still be hope. And there can still be connection.

If you have ever thought about volunteering during a disaster, I hope you take that step. You do not need to have all the answers. You just need a heart for service and a desire to help. There will always be someone who needs a meal, a hand to hold, a listening ear, or a reminder that their community has not forgotten them.

You may sign up to help others, but you may also find new friends, a deeper purpose, and a connection that stays with you long after the disaster response ends.

Because sometimes, the greatest thing we can give someone during a disaster is not only help.

It is the reminder that they are not alone.