Why I respond to the call for help, every time
December 16, 2024 | By Dan Rich
I still get emotional when I think about the people I met in Asheville, North Carolina, who were impacted by Hurricane Helene.
I flew to the state in mid-October as a member of the Mastercard Disaster Response team and Red Cross volunteer, where we helped open five community care centers, providing water, food, medical care and facilities for showers, washing clothes and Wi-Fi. The devastation and destruction were unreal — so many people in the area lost so much.
In one of my assigned roles at one of the community care centers, I welcomed community clients, explained the services available and gave a quick tour of the shower and laundry facilities. There was one very memorable moment I will likely never forget. After taking a shower, a gruff older man, whom I will affectionately call an “Appalachian mountain man,” came up to me and said, “This shower means so much to me. I haven’t had one in two weeks. I’ve never thought much about what the Red Cross does, but now …” He started to cry and could barely finish his sentence. “Thank you for being here.” This man was just so grateful.
That tiny interaction also meant so much to me. This is why I respond to the call for help, every time — I’m always ready to go. We’re making a real human impact, and that’s why I do this.
The Mastercard Disaster Response team flew to Asheville, N.C. in October to help open community care centers for the Red Cross, where citizens impacted by the storm could find water, food, medical care and even take showers and wash their clothes.
I've now participated in four national Red Cross deployments with the Mastercard team. I assisted communities in Mayfield, Kentucky, recovering from a tornado and in Fort Myers, Florida, following a hurricane. In 2021, I also aided nearly 10,000 Afghan refugees who were set up in temporary military tent villages at Fort Bliss, outside El Paso, Texas, many of whom had arrived without clothes, shoes, or personal belongings after fleeing the Taliban.
Initially our Mastercard team helped with shelter and food, and eventually we created and opened a mini shoe store to distribute donated shoes. My assignment was to measure people’s feet, then help find shoes that fit them. The days were long and hard, but that experience was life-changing.
It’s always heartbreaking to see what people must endure in times of disaster. Their lives have been unfairly turned upside down, and a lot of the poorest people seem to get hit the hardest. At the same time, I’m so happy and proud to be able to help, and people are so welcoming and thankful for the smallest of things — a shower, personal care kits, blankets and food. I always feel this strong mix of emotions.
I’ve also met some amazing Mastercard colleagues on these Red Cross deployments —folks from all parts of the company, often from parts of the business I don’t typically get to interact with. We come from all over the country, and no one cares about titles or functions
We’re there working together for a bigger purpose.
The deployments with Mastercard inspired me to volunteer with my local Southern California Red Cross chapter. Here in my hometown of San Diego, I’m part of a disaster strike team designated to respond immediately to disasters, such as fires or floods. In those situations, I drive a Red Cross food delivery truck. Most of that work is after business hours — even in the middle of the night — but if I need to deliver lunch to a shelter during the day, Mastercard allows me that flexibility. I have a great boss who believes in community engagement and volunteerism, and I work at a company that backs me as I make time to do this.
Deploying with the Mastercard Disaster Response team as a Red Cross volunteer to disaster areas and humanitarian crises has been a profound experience for me. I am so thankful for the privilege of representing Mastercard and serving our communities during the most desperate times.
At Mastercard we talk about doing well and doing good. And the opportunity to do good — something in the community that you care deeply about — is an amazing employee benefit. I’d tell anyone to take advantage of it.
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