It did not take long to experience the knowledge, in-depth foresight and commitment of Red Cross Volunteers Juju Stringfield and Claudia Caballero.  As members of The Latino Engagement Team, it’s their primary roll to seek those hard-to-find community members that may need disaster assistance that do not speak English. The special outreach efforts include finding low-income communities in hard-to-find neighborhoods. Today’s task included talking to over 80 percent of residents in Rio Hondo who only speak Spanish and rural areas of San Benito. The effectiveness became clear as they warmly greeted residents with friendliness, sincerity speaking in their native language – Spanish.

Being able to meet with the Latino community really helps us get to everyone and truly find all who were affected that need assistance. The acceptance and level of interest by the community was reflected with smiles and great interest as the Latino Engagement Team shared information with them on how they can receive assistance from the Red Cross. Overall, a very successful and productive day for the Latino Engagement Team serving devastated individuals on behalf of the American Red Cross.

Part of the role of the Latino Engagement team is to meet with diverse communities within the chapter boundaries with a focus on increasing access, trust, and information while performing core community engagement activities: community meetings, neighborhood canvassing, neighborhood services, partnerships, and neighborhood recruitment. They also Identify organizations and partners providing feeding, emergency supplies, and sheltering and share information with the rest of the Community Engagement & Partnerships, External Relations, and Operations.

The Red Cross, powered by volunteers, is responsible for aiding the recovery process following disasters. Bilingual volunteers are valuable every day in the Texas Gulf Coast Region but especially when disasters strike. Please consider volunteering with the Red Cross and being the hope those need during devastation by going to redcross.org/Texas. 

Story and photo by: Manuel Lerma, Red Cross volunteer