Kimberly Gonzalez joined the American Red Cross two years ago as a Disaster Cycle Services team member. She frequently responds to local disasters, most of which are single-family home fires. A native Spanish-speaker, Kimberly is especially helpful to members of the Hispanic community when they experience emergencies. She delivers comfort and support when members of her community experience some of their worst days. Read on to learn what Hispanic Heritage Month means to Kimberly and how she helps deliver disaster relief to Spanish speakers.  

Tell us about your role with the American Red Cross.

I am a Disaster Program Specialist with the Central Chapter, which allows me to work with volunteers in my community to provide the resources to support them in any way that I can. Specifically, I work a lot with volunteers and the Hispanic Community in the Midlands area.   

What does Hispanic Heritage Month mean to you?

It means bringing a different, diverse group together to celebrate their differences and what makes them unique. It highlights what we have to offer to our communities and the country. To be able to see that alone is beautiful. There are also folks who celebrate their Independence Day at this time of year. It’s wonderful to be able to celebrate all of our cultures.

What is it like to be able to speak to somebody in their native language when you’re responding to a local disaster and what does that mean to the families you’re assisting?  

For the impacted people, it means the world to them because they feel like their voice is being heard; they feel represented during a time of disaster. They are concerned and have no place to go to. They are nervous to go out and speak to a person who may not be able to communicate with them. To be there and show them ‘hey, I look like you, and I speak your language,’ I can see that that really makes them feel safe. For me, that's very important because growing up, representation always meant a lot to me. Sometimes you’re trying to find your way within a new community, and you finally see someone who looks like you. It feels a lot less lonely, and it feels a whole lot easier to navigate the situation you’re going through. I get to help my community; I get to be there to show them that I really do care—that we really are there for them the way we say that we are.  

What do you want people to know about how the Red Cross supports the Hispanic community?  

I’ve seen a lot of times that Spanish-speakers are concerned that we would report them to the government in some way. A lot of times they are afraid to open up to us. It’s all a matter of us reaching out and giving them a hug and showing them that there’s nothing to be scared of.  

I had the privilege to go to Texas earlier this year to help out after Hurricane Beryl. I deployed as an emergency response vehicle driver. When I got to a shelter, I found out there were a couple of Hispanic families who only spoke Spanish. To be able to talk to them and interact with them, they really felt relieved because they didn't know what was happening. To see the Red Cross meant a lot to them. When I went around the community providing feeding services, a lot of them I spoke to shared that they didn’t know the Red Cross did this. I get to spread the news, and show people what the Red Cross is all about and help them feel a little less left out.  

Spanish-speaking volunteers are always needed. To learn about how you can support your community and sign up to volunteer, visit RedCross.org/volunteer or cruzrojaamericana.com