By Joe Gutierrez, American Red Cross volunteer

Like many others, the COVID-19 pandemic put Kim Lane at the crossroads of what her future would be. Unemployed temporarily, Kim wanted to find something that would keep her busy in a virtual setting and hopefully fulfilled.

She found it and then some while doing searches on the internet – the American Red Cross.

“I have always been attracted to the Red Cross’ mission to alleviate human suffering,” said Kim. “But because I was busy raising three kids, I had not been able to volunteer. Now that they are grown, I decided to jump in and get involved and I am glad I did.”

After taking the required training, she was initially assigned to respond to the Golden State Fire up north, helping those displaced find a safe place to stay.

“It was fast-paced and I learned so much in the three weeks that I was involved,” she said.

That introduction to the organization not only appealed to her, but also spurred her interest and involvement in the Red Cross.

She serves in the Disaster Action Team and is also a duty officer, putting her on call for one week every four weeks. She is a shelter supervisor and is close to completing the requirements to officially serve as a shelter manager, something she has done several times. She has several Group Activity Positions, including Feeding, Disaster Assessment and Reunification. She is also the Mass Care lead for Riverside County, overseeing the work of the Shelter Manager, the Feeding Lead, Distribution of Emergency Supplies and Reunification (a position she said they are looking to fill) and more recently a pet liaison. She also became the first recipient of a Red Cross Volunteer Recognition for a Disaster Action Team Challenge Coin for Exemplary Service.

That dedication and desire to help led her to being named the Red Cross Volunteer of the Month for October 2024.

“I’m really honored and flattered, but there are so many other volunteers that deserve this recognition,” said Kim. “The really great part is being honored for something where I truly believe I’m making a difference.”

Kim believes her career in change management makes her a good fit for the Red Cross.

“I help people adjust to new situations and technology. The people we serve as Red Cross volunteers are certainly experiencing drastic changes, so I use my training to help them make it through those initial adjustments,” Kim said. “It’s a good skill to have when you are working for the Red Cross.”

She said she has many reasons for staying involved as a volunteer. Among them are the people she works with.

“I really like the people I work with. We share many of the same values. Like me, they do this because they really want to help people who are in situations that may be one of the most stressful things that many of them will ever experience. My Red Cross peers are willing to do whatever it takes to help, even if that means giving up a day off or getting up in the middle of the night in the cold and rain.”

But Kim adds another reason for volunteering.

“I like the feeling I get when I am able to make a difference to our clients,” she said. “It’s fulfilling and makes me feel good about myself and our other volunteers.”

She said the best things about being a Red Cross volunteer are her “co-volunteers, our Disaster Program Manager, and, of course, helping out clients. Never a dull moment!”

Kim said her Red Cross moment as a volunteer happened on July 4, 2023.

“We got a call in the middle of the night after a stray firework landed on top of a home and set it on fire. When we arrived, the family was distraught and still trying to comprehend what had happened,” she said. “They were so thankful and overwhelmed, so grateful that we were there, not just for the funds we gave them, but for the emotional support. It was well worth getting out of my warm bed for.”

She didn’t hesitate when asked what her message to fellow Red Cross volunteers would be.

“Thanks for working alongside me on the many Disaster Action Team calls, shelters and other events that I have attended,” Kim said. “I have met so many new people that I hold in high esteem.”

And what would she tell potential volunteers?

“There are so many benefits. Yes, sometimes you will get a call to go out to a fire or a shelter at the most inconvenient time, but the rewards are huge. At a time when news outlets are filled with stories of political strife and civil disrespect, the Red Cross offers an opportunity to change that narrative, in your life and in the lives of our clients. Try it, you’ll like it!”