Tell us a little about yourself and your career?
I am an Episodic Director and Storyboard Artist who has worked pretty much in every studio in town on shows ranging from preschool to primetime. Last year I worked on development with multiple studios. In addition, wanderlust has always been in my blood, and one of my proudest accomplishments is stepping foot on every continent. Never shying away from a challenge and the unknown has led me to adventures in places like Kenya, the Galapagos Islands, and Antarctica.
Growing up in rural Kansas, I developed a love for animation watching Akira and Beauty and the Beast. In high school I joined Key Club International, an organization that promotes community service, volunteerism, and leadership, eventually assuming the role of Lieutenant Governor for my district. I found volunteer work very fulfilling and a great way to help my community, and I was glad to find ways to continue it here in Southern California.
Where are you volunteering and why did you start?
The day after 9/11, I contacted the Red Cross and asked how I could help. My first volunteer event with the Red Cross was at Dodger Stadium, where they had set up a drive-thru donation center in the parking lot. These were the days before online donations were commonplace, and donations were largely through physical checks and cash. I remember the well-known Defense Attorney Gloria Allred drove in and made a large donation. I’ve continued to volunteer with the Red Cross off and on since then.
I specialize in Disaster Relief Services. After the catastrophic L.A. fires this January, I volunteered at shelters that supported those affected by the Eaton and Hurst Fires. These included the large Red Cross center at the Pasadena Civic Auditorium and the FEMA centers in Pasadena and Altadena.
What have you learned from your volunteering experience?
The best way I can describe the experience is exhausting but rewarding. I found that the most valuable thing I could offer was some temporary sense of normalcy to these people who have had their whole lives upended in such a short amount of time. Whether that took the form of offering them a hot shower when they had not one for days, free supplies and assistance to help them navigate through the long road ahead of them, or just someone to talk to. Many of them just wanted to talk, and not about the fires. Some of them wanted to make small talk just to feel like a normal human again.
What is the most satisfying part of volunteering?
I can answer that with a story: As I exited the parking garage to report to my first shift in Pasadena, I was wearing my Red Cross shirt and noticed a family of evacuees that was just arriving at the shelter. I asked how they were doing and the mother-in-law tearfully said, “Thank you so much for being here,” and immediately hugged me. I almost cried on the spot. I had not even started working yet and realized that the presence and accessibility of the Red Cross meant so much to her and her family. These are the people you do it for.
How can people get involved who might be interested in volunteering?
If you would like to volunteer with the Red Cross, you can simply go to the website and fill out an application. They have different volunteer areas such as blood donor ambassador, disaster action team (the area I specialize in), and others. They provide training so you do not need to feel like an expert going in. You can find shifts that fit with your schedule, from just a few hours to field deployments for two weeks or more. The hardest step is the first one, but the Red Cross makes it easy to get started.
Learn more about volunteering with the Red Cross here.
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