American Red Cross volunteers from Georgia on the ground helping California wildfire victims

Suzanne Lawler, American Red Cross Central Midwest Georgia chapter Regional Communications Manager, says seven of the 350 Red Cross staff members in California are from right here in Georgia. 

MACON, Georgia (41NBC/WMGT) – Wildfires continue to sweep across Los Angeles, California, having already displaced thousands from their homes and claiming 24 lives. Volunteers from the American Red Cross is on the ground, including volunteers from here in Georgia, doing what they can to help Californians.

Suzanne Lawler, American Red Cross Central Midwest Georgia chapter Regional Communications Manager, says seven of the 350 Red Cross staff members in California are from right here in Georgia.

“They’re supplying everything from shelter, water, food, all the way down to cleanup supplies and medication,” Lawler said.

Lawler says Red Cross volunteers from across the country helped Middle Georgians recover after Hurricane Helene, not only providing everyday necessities, but also doing anything they could to do brighten up people’s days, like offering hugs. Now, she says Georgia’s Red Cross volunteers are on the opposite side of the country doing the same.

“They’re just listening to people,” Lawler said. “They’re providing that comfort and that listening ear, all the way from spiritual services to mental health services.”

Elizabeth Quintero, American Red Cross Disaster Relief Team Service Associate, says the 2,000-plus-mile journey across the country has been well worth it. Quintero worked for the Colombian Red Cross for 12 years before moving to the United States and working for the American Red Cross for the past three. After 15 years with the organization, Quintero was shocked when she was deployed for the first time last week.

“Now that I had the opportunity to deploy to California, I couldn’t let it pass,” Quintero said. “I was like, ‘I want to be there to help people.'”

Quintero has been working in California since January 9, helping set up beds and registering people for shelter visits, and mental health services. She says many wildfire victims were unaware of the atrocities heading their way and that they were caught off guard by mandatory evacuation orders at the local and state level.

Quintero says she and other volunteers at the shelter work hard, 12-hour days, but that each shift is rewarding. She says the unprecedented nature of the wildfires call for people from all over pitching in how they can to help out.

“Today it’s California,” Quintero said. “Tomorrow it could be somewhere else, we don’t know. But the Red Cross is always going to be there no matter what.” 

If you want to contribute to the American Red Cross’s wildfire relief efforts or know someone in need, click here.