By: Donn Greenberg

Donn Greenberg, left, at a smoke alarm installation event in 2019

We never know when our lives might be affected by a major event, either having something happen to us or someone close to us. In my case it was my in-laws. In August 2008, they experienced an 8-alarm fire that destroyed the apartment complex they lived in Conshohocken, PA. Besides my in-laws, there were also 373 other residents displaced by that fire. Luckily, they did not sustain any injuries since they were not home at the time, but they did lose all their possessions.

Later that night, the American Red Cross established a care center at the Spring Mill Fire Company.  I accompanied my in-laws and saw first-hand how the Red Cross provided support. Residents were able to meet one-on-one with a trained disaster responder to get help with housing, food, clothing and medical needs, as well as reissued driver’s licenses.

Our family was very thankful that the Red Cross was there to offer assistance. It was a huge relief to know that my in-laws were in good hands during this devastating time, and there were services and support available to them that none of us knew about or even thought about during this trying time. Hundreds of people were scrambling to find temporary housing, but the Red Cross came through and took a ton of weight off our shoulders helping to find housing.

During my career, I’ve volunteered in professional business organizations and have served on several of their boards. Volunteerism has played an important part in both my personal and professional life. Since the night of the fire, I always knew I wanted to return the favor and volunteer with the Red Cross because of how they were there for my in-laws. In November 2019, my Red Cross story came full circle when I became a Red Cross volunteer.

I now hold several roles, including as a volunteer photographer and a member of the disaster response team in Delaware County. Part of my role includes providing Red Cross support to people displaced by disasters like home fires. Hopefully I’ve helped return the favor that the Red Cross paid to my family all those years ago. For the foreseeable future, I’ll work to pay that favor forward.