# @americanredcross on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/CmcJM3oM8KI
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/72591994-americanredcross-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/514067c9c9.jpg
- **Posted:** 2022-12-21T18:17:39.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** American Red Cross (@americanredcross) — https://gondola.cc/americanredcross

## Caption

“We used to live in a place in the northern part of India, a state called Jammu and Kashmir. There were rivers that overflowed there [due to heavy rains] and that was my first encounter with the Red Cross — seeing them respond to help people after the flooding.

My wife and I moved from India to Los Angeles in 2005. It was in 2008 when we had bought a house that a massive fire happened called the Sayre Fire, which started on Sayre Street in Sylmar, CA. Our home was in Sylmar and this street was down the road from our home. The Red Cross came on-site and helped everyone. We were fortunate not to need additional support from the Red Cross, but I could see them in the community camping out with their trucks. That was the second instance I saw the Red Cross helping people.

After I moved to Hartford, CT, I put in the application to be a volunteer with the Red Cross, and immediately, I received a phone call from someone named Ginger, who happens to be my supervisor to this day. I shared all of my experiences, and she said I would be a fantastic fit as a Disaster Action Team member. Ginger really helped guide me — she got me enrolled in online trainings and even though I became a supervisor and I have trained many other Red Cross volunteers, Ginger remains my supervisor and my go-to person if I have a question.

I highly encourage everyone to at least become part of the Disaster Action Team, even if they never get deployed, even if they never go anywhere. Just the fact that going through the trainings, they will learn a lot about safety, about how to keep their home and neighborhood safe. The Red Cross needs trained volunteers out there.”

Alok Tewari shares how witnessing the Red Cross throughout his life inspired him to put on a red vest as part of our #StoriesThatInspire series. We're thankful for the five years that he has dedicated to being a Red Crosser. ❤️

## Stats

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- **Likes:** 217
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## Tags

storiesthatinspire

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