When thinking of the ideal volunteer, Lauren Welch comes to mind. Lauren has a history of volunteering and joined the Red Cross in 2015 after moving to South Florida from Pennsylvania. Lauren joined the Red Cross with a friend but continued volunteering after her friend moved away. Now retired, Lauren was an 8th-grade science teacher and utilizes her skills to help the Volunteer Servies team. She helps wherever needed, but mainly with conducting volunteer interviews and orientation.

In 2016, Lauren deployed to assist after the Baton Rouge flooding, a catastrophic event that inundated large parts of southern Louisiana, resulting in widespread damage and the displacement of thousands of residents. Triggered by unprecedented rainfall, the floodwaters affected thousands of homes and caused billions of dollars in damage.

While the damage was devastating, she recalls that people who were not even Red Cross volunteers raised their hand to help their community. Her most memorable moment was watching a displaced family praying before their meal. Welch said it was worth seeing humanity's resilience and watching people step up to help others, even while facing adversity themselves.

During her deployment, Lauren said she witnessed the Red Cross mission firsthand: "The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors." This profound experience deeply moved her and is one of the main reasons she remains committed to volunteering with the organization.

Welch believes her role is vital because volunteers fuel the Red Cross, and "an organization is made by its people." Welch plans to continue volunteering because she believes it's a fantastic organization that allows her to see the good in humanity, and volunteer participation is crucial to keeping the organization alive.

To become a volunteer with the South Florida Red Cross, visit redcross.org/SFLvolunteer.

Written by Gabrielle Warren, American Red Cross Public Affairs