# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CqGEaqpOBxI
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/5041722-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/44b79baa9c.jpg
- **Posted:** 2023-03-22T14:38:04.000+00:00

## Caption

"On November 19, 2010, about a week before Thanksgiving, I watched my home and everything that I owned burn in a fire.

That night, I was up late texting a friend and could smell wood burning. We had the windows open so I thought someone must have had their fireplace running.

I ended up going to bed around midnight. At around 1 a.m., I remember being woken up to the sound of ‘Jill, you need to wake up and call 911. The house is on fire, and I'm going to get the kids out of their bed.’

At the time, I had a 6-year-old and 2-year-old. I was so confused but I grabbed the phone and dialed 911. You could hear popping noises in the garage from aerosol and paint cans exploding. That’s how we woke up and learned our house was on fire.

We grabbed our car keys and drove around the block so the kids didn't have to see their house burning.

We came back around when the fire trucks arrived. About an hour later, I remember seeing a white car with a big Red Cross pulling up, and I thought, why is the Red Cross here?

As I sat on my neighbor’s porch, the first thing they did was give me a hug and said, ‘It's going to be alright. We're here to help you and bring you comfort.’ They had a stuffed animal for my daughter, some snacks and hygiene items and helped us get financial assistance. They said, ‘This is what we do to help people that have experienced a disaster.’

I couldn't believe that people got up in the middle of the night and did this. Hope is the word that always comes to mind when I think of the Red Cross.

Now, I serve as an Executive Director in the Fort Myers and Naples area and share my story of hope with others. I only hope it inspires them to serve and give back."

After receiving help from the Red Cross years ago, Jill now pays it forward by helping people affected by disasters as a Red Crosser. If you're inspired by Jill's story and would like to make an impact today on Red Cross Giving Day, tap the button on this post to make a donation. #HelpCantWait

#StoriesThatInspire #RedCross

## Stats

- **Views:** 0
- **Likes:** 188
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- **Comments:** 7

## Tags

helpcantwait, storiesthatinspire, redcross

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