90% of Red Cross Disaster Work Done by Volunteers

When wildfires threatened communities across North Central Florida this week, local volunteers didn't wait for someone else to step up. They mobilized immediately to feed exhausted firefighters and open shelters for displaced neighbors.

Joni Perkins, executive director of the North Central Florida American Red Cross chapter, shared a stunning fact during National Volunteer Week. "90% of the work we do here is volunteer-based," she said.

That means nearly every meal served, every shelter opened, and every family comforted comes from ordinary people choosing to help their neighbors. During the recent brush fires, Red Cross volunteers set up canteening stations to keep firefighters and emergency responders fed as they battled blazes across the region.

The power of local volunteers goes beyond just filling shifts. Perkins says having familiar faces show up during a crisis makes all the difference.

"When people in their community face a disaster, it's great to have your neighbors and your family and the people around you who know your neighborhood be there to support you," she explained. That's why the Red Cross activates volunteers from all 12 counties they serve in North Central Florida.

Rural communities especially benefit from this neighbor-helping-neighbor model. When disaster strikes in smaller towns, volunteers who already know the area can respond faster and understand exactly what their community needs.

The Ripple Effect

This volunteer network creates a safety net that reaches far beyond fire response. The same people who set up shelters during wildfires also respond to house fires, floods, and other emergencies year-round.

Their goal is simple: alleviate human suffering in emergencies. But the impact ripples outward. Every volunteer who steps up inspires others to do the same, building stronger, more connected communities.

As burn bans continue across the region, these volunteers remain ready to mobilize at a moment's notice.

The American Red Cross proves that the most powerful disaster response tool isn't fancy equipment or big budgets, it's people who care about their neighbors enough to show up.