Story and photos by Maddison and Cole Fritz
It all started at breakfast on our honeymoon with a conversation about what we wanted for our marriage: to actively pursue the good of others. As we sat at breakfast, the news flashed reports of an impending hurricane – Hurricane Harvey they called it. We then tossed around the idea, what if we could together pursue the good of others following disasters? A quick internet search later, we were both reading the mission of Red Cross: to prevent and alleviate human suffering. We were both captivated by
Maddison and Cole Fritz team up to bring aid to the people of Puerto Rico.
the powerful simplicity of this mission, and we were delighted at the prospect of joining in an organization nearly 140 years old to pursue the good of others in the wake of disasters.
We immediately filled out a volunteer interest form, and soon applied and began disaster relief trainings. As we went through the process, we watched Hurricane Harvey hit, followed by Irma, and then murmurs arose about an impending third storm – Hurricane Maria. With unprecedented need for Red Cross volunteers, we received a request to deploy to Puerto Rico as soon as possible, and were faced with an urgent choice as to whether we would move from the hypothetical ‘it would be great to volunteer with Red Cross,’ to a very tangible ‘let’s do this!’ It was all too easy to find reasons we shouldn’t say yes: we’d barely been married for 2 months, we were in the midst of job interviews and apartment searching, and it just felt like a rapid movement from idea to action. But there will always be reasons to delay, and there was a need now, so we said yes and jumped in.
Hurricane Maria made landfall in Puerto Rico on September 16, 2017
We learned much about swift action in response to disaster in the following weeks as we watched and participated in one of the toughest Red Cross responses to a disaster. We were on an island with no running water, no electricity, no cell or phone service over most of the island, shortages on drinking water and food, and lack of viable transportation options to get resources to the island. It was a great gift to provide aid to each person affected by Hurricane Maria. Yet, it was staggering to see the magnitude of the destruction and need, knowing that neither Red Cross, nor FEMA, or any other organization could mobilize the resources at the rate and scale at which they were needed. However, what was striking was that Red Cross didn’t wait for the communication or transportation to improve before they started working, rather they jumped in immediately. It is easy to think that alleviation of human suffering comes from perfectly efficient systems and flawless communication. However, in a disaster like Hurricane Maria, that would have taken months.
Red Cross chose to enter into the disaster to provide relief, and as Red Cross volunteers, we experienced the effects of the disaster firsthand. We saw this as Red Cross did tedious work just to get water to the island and as they had to rework and recreate procedures to meet the unique challenges of the disaster. However, we also saw that the first step in alleviation of suffering is giving someone the hope that they are neither alone nor forgotten. The fact that we were present even when the effects of the hurricane were rampant said to people; “We’re here, we see you’re suffering, and we’re going to do all we can to support you.” And that is the first thing that makes the difference. But to be present, there must be swift action, even before all the details are ironed out.
Maddison Fritz works with partner agencies to help the people of Puerto Rico
As Red Cross took on some criticism for a lack of efficiency in their response following the hurricanes, we doubted that the critics had experienced the realities of providing relief in the midst of a disaster. What critics haven’t understood is the principle highlighted by Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a famous author and theologian who died protecting the lives of Jews during the Holocaust:
“Action springs not from thought, but from a readiness for responsibility and action.”
The actions of the Red Cross exude from a conviction their responsibility is to take action to alleviate the suffering of any and every person. And this road to alleviating suffering comes not from a perfectly mapped strategy, but from choosing action, even when the details are not yet completely clear. It comes from Red Cross volunteers choosing to deploy to Puerto Rico before the storm hits, so that they’re already in place to meet the most urgent needs immediately after the storm. It comes when a team of volunteers enters into uncharted waters, but takes action to provide relief simply because they know something must be done. It comes not from lamenting what could be done in perfect conditions, but taking advantage of every opportunity to engage with the physical, emotional, and psychological needs of every person in need.
If you’re drawn to the Red Cross mission, you could wait till the timing is perfect and everything is in place for you to volunteer. However, as we’ve learned through both our decision to volunteer with Red Cross and in participating in their rapid response to Hurricane Maria; alleviation of suffering begins not with flawless strategic planning, but rather it begins with the courage to step out and take action.