Five weeks after Hurricane Harvey caused the largest flooding event in U.S. history, the American Red Cross continues to provide shelter, food, relief supplies and other support to help people whose lives were turned upside down by this catastrophic storm. Of the thousands deployed by the Red Cross to assist, here is one volunteer’s story.
By Marianna L. Moles
One of the best decisions I’ve ever made was to say, “Yes, I will go to Texas.” I was nervous, but the morning I had to make the decision, I woke up thinking of a quote from Carrie Fisher, “Stay scared but do it anyway. The confidence will follow.”
I will always remember the resilient and grateful people I have met on my first deployment. Red Cross volunteers/staff have hearts of gold, and I believe many of them will become my lifelong friends. The residents of Southeast Deep South Texas I talked with will always be imprinted on my mind. Everyone here is stronger than the storm. Leaving is bittersweet. I am changed forever.
I have been denid for help by FEMA and y’all I am lay on a bed that has mold I was took from my home during the hurricane Harvey floods and stuck in a shelter at the West Orange Intermediate School during that time of the hurricane I was hit in the face by debris and had my tooth knocked out I am now have a lot of health problems and my insurance is not pay for my meds I have no money to get a new bed and I am having to stay in my apartment with the mold and not have one bit of help for my health or get my need met that I need help with I am disabled and I have copd and it’s only get worse can someone please help me with this problem
Hi Crystal,
The focus of our financial assistance program is to deliver funds to qualified households most severely affected by Hurricane Harvey. This includes households in 39 Texas counties whose primary residence was severely affected by the storm, were displaced for several days, and have expressed an immediate need for help with life-sustaining items like food and clothing. The applicant’s identity must also be successfully verified.
We wish we could help everyone, but there are many who have been affected by Hurricane Harvey that may not be qualified for this program. You may qualify for other forms of Red Cross support, including sheltering, cleaning supplies, food, health and mental health support and spiritual care.
Thank you Marianna, your story is wonderful, it is good for the many thousands that still feel afraid of thinking “I don’t think I have what it takes to do such task” or for other unknown fears.
Now you can tell the world, via this short story that we are all in this together Yay!
May you continue to give of what heavenly father gave you. yourself, your ears to listen and your arms to tell someone , it will be ok. Again thank you for your services. Job well done.
What a nice comment, Magdalena. Thank you. As you said so well, “We are all in this together.” Thanks for your kind message.
Can someone please get back to me ??? I’ve been on hold every night for over 2 hrs for Red Cross to no eval. My assistance was approved but not has cancelled on it. Please please someone explain to me. We had to change our account number and we’re told we would be contacted thru Red Cross to be resent out. Nothing yet.
HELP!!
We are sorry, Matt, for the inconvenience. This message is being forward to the right people who should be able to help.
My disbursement was approved on Sept 11th, and has been “in transit” to PayPal every since. Now, 3 months later, I can not get hold of anyone from Red Cross by phone (I spent 7 plus hours on hold earlier then was disconnected), Every time I talk to someone they always tell me they are sending this on up to the people who handle these problems and can manipulate the system and are tagging it urgent. But I can not be transfered to these people nor talk to them myself. For over 30 years I have supported and donated to Red Cross, but when I need help, all I receive is a brush off or run around, my support has ended.
Hi Billy, we are so sorry that we cannot help on this end but we encourage you to follow the guidance provided by 800-REDCROSS. Thank you for your patience, and please take care.