By Nadia Brown

Alex Stutzman is an American Red Cross and AmeriCorps volunteer who arrived in advance of Hurricane Beryl from Seattle, Washington, to provide aid and relief before and after landfall.   

Hurricane Beryl struck Houston early Monday, July 8, 2024. During her time in Texas, Stutzman spent time in Laredo at a partner-led shelter, in La Marque at a Red Cross shelter and cooling center and at the Houston headquarters pitch-hitting on various teams.   

The Laredo shelter served as an evacuation shelter before the hurricane hit. In contrast, the La Marque shelter operated more as a cooling station. Stutzman helped distribute food and water, ensuring community members had essential resources.  

"Residents came to pick up water and pantry boxes and stayed for a hot meal and to cool off," said Stutzman. "Even with all they were going through, many wanted to help us at the shelter."  

Stutzman has responded to home fires and smaller regional disasters in Washington, but coming to Texas was the first time she had responded to an extreme weather disaster outside her home state.  

In addition to her time in the shelters, Stutzman spent time at the Hurricane Beryl headquarters. She said she learned a lot about preparedness, disaster response and recovery phases while attending meetings.  

"Alex has an insatiable desire to learn, and that eagerness is clear to those around her," said Ashley Joos, disaster program specialist for the Red Cross Northwest Region and Alex's supervisor back home. "I truly appreciate her relentless pursuit of knowledge and resilience in the face of uncertainty – it's not always easy, but she's willing to put in the work. It makes her a true standout on our team."  

After graduating from the University of Idaho in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies and a Bachelor of Science and Geography. Stutzman spent a year and a half teaching English in Japan. Upon returning to Washington, Stutzman gave herself a year to figure out what she wanted to do next, leading her to join AmeriCorps and work with the Red Cross in Seattle.   

Volunteerism is something that has always been a part of Stutzman's life. As a Girl Scout, she learned the importance of volunteering herself and saw the value her mom and grandmother placed on volunteering.   

"If you're able to help people, I think that it's important you do," Stutzman says. "There are so many unique and diverse people, and we can learn from everyone. Everyone is good at something and has something special they can contribute."   

Stutzman's advice to those considering volunteering for the Red Cross.  

"The biggest piece of advice I have is that it might be overwhelming with all the different departments and positions, but once you get placed into your volunteer position, you will find there is a spot just for you. Everyone is so excited you're here and so excited to help new volunteers in their transition to help during relief and disaster efforts."   

If you or someone you know is interested in volunteerism, encourage them to contact us. Put in your application, and our volunteer services team will help you find a position you will appreciate.