Laredo Volunteers Urgently Needed for Red Cross, Food Bank

The American Red Cross and South Texas Food Bank in Laredo need volunteers now, and your few hours could change everything.

Gabriel Castillo, Senior Recruitment Specialist for the Red Cross in Central and South Texas, knows the numbers by heart. Volunteers handle 90% of the Red Cross's humanitarian work. The organization responds to an emergency somewhere in America every 8 minutes.

"Turning Compassion into Action" is the Red Cross motto. But Castillo emphasizes something most people don't realize: the worst time to train a volunteer is during a disaster.

That's why they're building three critical teams now. The Disaster Action Team provides immediate support to families facing home fires and floods. The Disaster Preparedness Team delivers educational programs to strengthen community readiness before emergencies strike. The Mass Care Team operates shelters and distributes meals when disaster hits.

The South Texas Food Bank also faces an urgent volunteer shortage for their Senior Food Program. Every Saturday morning, volunteers package food bags for elderly community members who depend on this service.

Peggy Duncan, United Way Executive Director, has seen the assembly line in action. With just 8 to 10 volunteers working together, teams can prepare about 640 bags in a single morning session.

The Ripple Effect

When volunteers show up prepared, everyone benefits. Red Cross teams can respond faster when fires displace families. Food bank assembly lines move smoothly when enough hands work together. Seniors receive their meals on time.

But the impact goes deeper. Trained disaster volunteers mean communities recover faster after emergencies. Regular food bank volunteers ensure consistent support for hundreds of elderly residents who might otherwise go hungry.

United Way is also recruiting adult tutors for their fall Literacy Program. Teaching someone to read changes not just one life but ripples through entire families.

The organizations have made signing up simple. Red Cross volunteers can contact Gabriel Castillo directly. Food bank volunteers need just four hours on a Saturday morning, and groups are especially welcome. United Way connects literacy tutors with students ready to learn.

Every volunteer brings unique skills and experience that strengthen these organizations while keeping costs down so more resources go directly to those in need.