Delivering help & hope: DAT volunteer plays Santa for family in need

“I always try to take it a little further if I can. Take that extra step.”

John Rudolph has taken on many roles as a volunteer with the American Red Cross of Western New York. Since joining in 2019, the former paramedic and volunteer firefighter has served as a Disaster Action Team (DAT) responder, a deputy director of operations during disaster response operations and now serves as regional program lead for the DAT team.

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Last December, after receiving a call for assistance following a home fire in Otsego County, he added one more to the list – Santa Claus.

Rudolph, along with his girlfriend Katie, have long played Santa and Mrs. Claus in an annual Christmas parade and also visit an area elementary school to meet with children ahead of the holiday. Halfway through the parade, Rudolph received a DAT call about a home fire that impacted a local family with two young children.

“Our goal with DAT is to respond within two hours of the request for assistance,” Rudolph explained. “So, we made arrangements to meet the family at a local McDonald’s immediately after the parade and initially, I had no idea that there were kids involved with the call. My beard was still dyed white and I still had my costume on. We were doing the intake, getting their information and you could tell they were just very affected by it. They were down and out knowing that Christmas was coming in a week and a half at that point.”

Every 8 minutes across the United States, DAT responders like John help to provide immediate emergency assistance to families in the wake of emergencies like home fires. Upon intake, families after often provided with blankets, comfort kits with hygiene items, and financial assistance to help provide temporary housing, food, clothing and more as needed. Specially trained Disaster Mental Health volunteers or Spiritual Care volunteers are also available to assist families in their recovery process while Red Cross casework team members help to connect families with resources to support them in the long-term recovery process.

But with Christmas just days away, Santa and fate stepped in.

“Each Christmas, my father asks us to donate to a give-a-tree instead of a gift for him. And I missed it.

This year, I was a day late donating. I’d gone to the local store, got a bunch of toys like jump ropes, glow-in-the-dark stars for kids’ ceilings and some toys that you figure would spread far and wide. I still had them in my car and so I grabbed them for the kids,” Rudolph said. “I asked if they wanted a photo with Santa, gave them the presents and both of them kind of lit up. They left spirits completely boosted up at that point. It wasn’t planned but it all came together that way.”

As for Rudolph, who called his volunteer role with DAT was a no-brainer, said playing Santa that day was just one of the many ways he and Red Cross volunteers like him deliver help and hope to those in some of their darkest moments.

“I really enjoy it. It feels good being able to do something like this, too. I’ve always heard of stories like that, but I always try to take it a little further if I can.”

Volunteers like John make up 90 percent of the American Red Cross workforce and embody its mission, making it possible for the Red Cross to help families in need every day. This National Volunteer Week, you're invited to put on a red vest to join the team. If you're interested in volunteering with John and the Disaster Action Team (DAT), or one of the many volunteer positions within the American Red Cross of Western New York visit our website.

Written by: Meg Rossman, Regional Communications Manager, American Red Cross of WNY