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

Disaster doesn't take a holiday

Many of us spent much of the last couple of weeks celebrating with friends and family. Between Christmas, New Year's and all the other holidays, the end of December and beginning of January should be busy but happy times.

Unfortunately, disaster doesn't take the holidays off.  Since December 23rd, we've responded to 11 separate fires and other related incidents in Erie County, providing for the immediate emergency needs of 55 people.


Photo courtesy wgrz.com

 Among the recent cases, our Disaster Action Team provided assistance to eight people, including young children, following a late Christmas Eve fire on Broadway in Depew. On Christmas Day, our volunteers responded to three separate incidents, assisting eight people in the City of Buffalo. Food, clothing and shelter were provided to two individuals following a fatal fire on Main Street in Clarence on December 29^th, and mental health services were offered to all involved in this tragedy. On New Year’s Eve, the Red Cross provided assistance to 18 people following a rooming house fire on Ashley Street in Buffalo.

We could not provide this vital emergency service to the community without volunteers such as Betsy Crocker of Amherst, Melissa Morris of Buffalo, Fred Pask of Akron, Sandra Rhoat of Cheektowaga, Diane Sargent of Lockport and Pete Swales from Springville, who along with staff members Amanda Campbell and Christine Kukelka sacrificed some of their family time this holiday to respond to these incidents and help our neighbors in need. We say this all the time, yet it's never enough--THANK YOU for everything that you do!

If you'd like to Join Us as a Disaster Action Team member, please contact volunteer coordinator Christine Kukelka at kukelkac@usa.redcross.org or visit www.buffaloredcross.org.

Check us out!

Have you noticed how beautiful the mansion is looking this holiday season? Thanks to the fabulous work and generosity of the local florists at Bloom, and help from the Chapter's staff, the Chapter is looking festive and just as Mrs. Clement, the wife of the prominent banker that once resided in this mansion, would have wanted.  If you haven’t had a chance to visit us here at 786 Delaware Avenue, you should sign up for a class through our website, drive by in the evening to see it with all the holiday lights on or call to schedule a tour to get a firsthand look at a truly historic Buffalo home.

Fun fact! One holiday season, the Chapter tried to put a Christmas tree in one of the mansion’s front windows that had colored lights on it, something that Mrs. Clement strictly forbid.  For three nights in a row, the tree was found knocked over, regardless of what was placed around the tree to hold it up.  On the fourth night, white lights were put on the tree, and it never fell again!

What we're up to!

It’s Christmas week here at the Chapter! Since we spend all year doing good work for our community, we take advantage of the Christmas season to have a little fun.  Our past week has been full of Secret Santa, homemade goodies and theme days, including today which is… Ugly Sweater day!

Although it’s not a competition, there have been a few individuals that have gone above and beyond this week, whether in extravagant Secret Santa scavenger hunts, bringing in homemade goodies or making their own ugly Christmas sweaters!  Even throughout our Christmas week, we have helped several families, which we are happy to do. We know that the Christmas season is all about giving, and we know that you as a community do as well.

Without your generous donations, we would not be able to do our good work throughout Buffalo 24/7, rain or shine, holiday or not, so we thank you for giving us the power to give help, because that is what we do best!

To make a donation to the American Red Cross this holiday season and help us continue to do our good work in the community, please visit us online, donate through our Holiday Giving Catalog or text GIFT to 90999 to make a $25 donation.