“My name is Ana Candelli, and I am an AmeriCorps member and a Red Cross Disaster Resiliency Corps member with the Eastern New York Region. I help serve Franklin, Essex, and Clinton counties. You can find me installing smoke alarms, teaching emergency preparedness, or in the field with a Disaster Action Team providing shelter, food, comfort and hope to families displaced by home fires and other disasters.

“I grew up low income and received a lot of support from my community growing up. As a thank you, I want to give back to community and help whenever or how ever I can.    

“I was at our region’s Disaster Training Institute when I received the most exciting call. I was asked to assist with Public Affairs in Missouri and Arkansas. The community had been impacted by several storms and tornados and, at the time of the call, the operation had been in the recovery phase. I was told that I would be assisting in Multi-Agency Resource Centers (MARC) by being a roaming content creator. A MARC is a one-stop shop where those affected by the disaster can connect directly with various agencies under one roof to help them in their recovery process.

“I arrived at headquarters in Springfield, Missouri, and was provided with a list of MARCs to collect stories for social media and on the Missouri and Arkansas Red Cross websites. I was given a daily assignment during our Public Affairs meetings, with the goal for each day to get at least one story and package together. A package is a photo, written story, and signed photo consent form. I would take their photos, conduct an interview, and write their story.

I worked with Bonnie and Johnny at the MARC
I wrote a story about Du’dee and how she provides stress relief.

“In addition to writing stories, I was also tasked with catching news reporters before they entered the MARC. I would collect their info, ask them what their story was about, and answer any questions that they may have. I also was tasked with being a ‘handler,’ preparing a person for an interview.

“I worked with amazing staff at the MARCs who helped guide me on my writing and photography journey. Not only did they give me advice on how I could write better, but they provided me with unforgettable career experience. After the MARCs were done, I was able to serve alongside the National Assistant Director of Public Affairs. We worked together on a couple stories and even went to unload a box truck together.

Aimee, a client at the MARC, wanted a Red Cross Pen as a souvenir because she was thankful for the help we provided, so I gave her mine.

“I had an amazing first deployment. Thank you to everyone who worked with me and provided guidance. When collecting a story, it is not about the attention. Stories are a way inform others on how to stay prepared. In addition, those listening to the story are listening ears, as the person impacted may feel they don’t have a space to vent. Seeing photos of damaged homes, and hearing stories of those who were in their homes when the storms hit, allows those listening to help determine an on-the-spot game plan to what resources are available and how the Red Cross and our partners may be able to provide tailored service.

“The key takeaway is to just take a minute and listen because one may be able to hear something important and provide tailored comfort and care.”