Mike Fish, Oregon Trail Chapter, Portland

Mike Fish (pictured second from left) stands with his fellow AmeriCorps team members who all do volunteer work at the American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter in Portland.

I wanted to give back to the community that has given me so much. Being a volunteer at the American Red Cross gives me a chance to give back. I'm a member of an AmeriCorps team. This allows me to work with the Red Cross chapter in Portland. As a Red Cross volunteer, one of my more memorable experiences has been coordinating Portland's Emergency Warming Centers. At first it was a fairly small operation involving the opening of just two shelters for homeless people to escape the freezing winter weather and get warm. When it first began, only about 30 people found refuge from the cold winter weather in these shelters.

But, as the freezing winter weather continued another shelter was opened. The operation grew to require a staffing of 60 volunteers, and the warming sites sheltered over 150 people. What really impressed me was that the people were so grateful. They often humorously remarked that a night in our warming centers was like a night at the Hilton Hotel complete with main meal delivery, snacks, blankets, and beds.

Surrounded by people in such good spirits, I willingly spent sometimes up to 80 hours a week helping to ensure the smooth operation of these Red Cross warming centers. It was immensely rewarding work, which is why I gave so much of my time helping people indoors during the dangerous winter weather which could cause cold-related injuries and deaths.

Even though my AmeriCorps term ends this summer, I can't wait to help open the warming centers again next winter. I am excited to learn about all the many ways I can serve my community through Red Cross participation.

 Read more "Why I Help" stories
 Read about the 2008 American Red Cross ad campaign, "Change a Life"