Volunteering as a way to reconnect and recharge...

I write this article to share a little about me, Team Rubicon, and volunteering.

A short personal story that explains why I feel compelled to volunteer.

I was 9 years old on May 29, 1990, when my hometown in Peru was destroyed by a 6.2 earthquake that killed 70 people, injured over 800 people, and destroyed more than 600 homes. Since the roof of the house had collapsed on its side, we were sleeping in our backyard away from the house in case there was another earthquake that would finish demolishing the house. I still remember experiencing the earthquake while on the street outside our house and feeling how the solid ground behaved like waves that would swing us up and down for several minutes. We were not injured, just very scared. What came after was even more devastating, an outbreak of cholera in Peru that would further hinder the recovery due to the unreliable water supply and sanitary conditions. Even though my family took precautions, I got sick, very sick, almost to the point that the doctors had no other choice than to prescribe I be administered a high level of meds to shocked my system, this could either save me or kill me. I barely survived.

We lived in a tent for the rest of the year, and we were the recipients of humanitarian assistance from the Red Cross and other humanitarian organizations. We not only saw neighbors helping neighbors but also people from other parts of our country and the world showed up to lend a hand. This left a huge impression at that early age.

Disaster brings Dispair, but...

Even though the U.S. has its fair share of encounters with natural disasters from hurricanes, tornados, wildfires, to floods. 2020 was an especially unusual year here in America by adding to the mix an unknown deadly virus (COVID) that quarantined the whole nation and the world. But America and Americans have historically confronted adversity with determination and optimism; bringing its people closer and leaving behind what divides us (at least for a short while).

I was for the most part of 2020 working from home, mainly to protect my family. I was fortunate to be able to have a job during the economic downturn. But the quarantine prevented me not only from staying away from loved ones, friends, coworkers but also from my community. Don't get me wrong, I don't spend every spare time of my time volunteering, but it was part of my schedule, a way to get to know the community, meet other volunteers, and see where the needs are.

The concept of volunteerism is not unique but is not widespread around the world, this is an area I recognize Americans to excel at. I've seen people visiting my community in the jungle of Peru to held medical, dental, and vision clinics, working on construction projects, water filtration, teaching crop diversification, and more. I often wondered what drives them to invest time, effort, and resources to go far away to help? The answer can be realized when you take action to do something about it; there is something inside you that fills out when you help others or have empathy with those who have lost their home, livelihood, or loved ones.

Reconnecting and Recharging - My Team Rubicon (TR) story

TR has allowed me the opportunity to serve others. TR has a unique story but they are not the only ones who do disaster relief. They, however, have a unique way to do it, perhaps it comes from the military background from its members and leadership. They also take safety, training very seriously, and this evident when you go on your first deploy mission.

For me, TR offered me my first opportunity this year to get back out there. I was deployed to West Virginia to respond to floods, we were the first ones on the ground helping a three-generation family to provided muck-out / mold mitigation and remediation, as well as general debris removal. It was an awesome experience, working hard, getting to know great people, aligning with the objective to get s-stuff done. I definitely will deploy again this year, there are still Covid related precautions, I suggest you check them out or consider get plugged in with other organizations in your community.

Jake Wood (one of TR founders and current CEO) recently announced that he is stepping out of that role into a board of directors role, I have reasons to believe that this organization is here to stay and have a more significant impact in the world.

Another (recent) flood story

The great experience in West Virginia was met with recent news from my parents that a flood had affected several towns near where I come from. I felt unable to do something about it, I am far away, and traveling outside the US is still a little "complicated".

I look forward to an opportunity to do something about it in the future, perhaps even with TR or even on my own.

If you have read to this point, I would like to encourage you to take action and to be on the lookout for opportunities to lend a hand to those around you. It does not have to be too far from where you are, but I am positive you would not regret it.