EMPTY STOCKING: Volunteer doesn't mind losing a little sleep
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Tony Dal Lago works as a Department of Defense contractor in Colorado Springs.
He’s a busy guy and doesn’t need to receive phones calls in the middle of the night from authorities asking him to help at a local disaster. He doesn’t need to aide injured people on a street curb, or bring dry clothes to a family left homeless on a dark and rainy night.
But he wouldn’t have it any other way.
“It makes me feel good to help people who have suffered devastating loss,” Dal Lago said. “Giving up some of my sleep and my time is nothing.”
Dal Lago is a lead volunteer for the American Red Cross, Pikes Peak Chapter, which helps people who have endured financial and health problems due to things such as house fires and natural disasters by providing them lodging, clothing, food and medicine.
It’s one of 15 area charities receiving grants from The Gazette/El Pomar Empty Stocking Fund.
Over his 13 years as a volunteer Red Cross coordinator, Dal Lago, a retired Air Force master sergeant, has been on site at more than 100 incidents in the Pikes Peak region.
In 2007 he was awakened by a 1:30 a.m. phone call from the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office regarding an apartment fire in south Colorado Springs. He coordinated the efforts of about 30 volunteers, who fed, clothed and gave basic medical care to more than 300 displaced apartment renters.
This year he and 10 other Red Cross volunteers were on the scene of another apartment fire, where they helped some 30 people.
“When you retire, and you have nothing to do,” Dal Lago said. “Remember that the Red Cross and other local agencies could really use your help.”
