When Hurricane Laura devastated southwest Louisiana in 2020, Allen Ardoin found himself on the receiving end of disaster relief. As he watched American Red Cross volunteers drive through his community in Emergency Response Vehicles, delivering meals and support to families struggling in the storm's aftermath, something clicked.

"I remember seeing the Red Cross bringing food," Allen recalled. "I said, 'I want to do that.' After the storm, I was on the receiving side, and I wanted to be on the giving side."

That desire to help others led Allen to join the Red Cross as a volunteer in Lake Charles. What began as a way to give back quickly grew into a wide-ranging commitment to serving communities across Louisiana.

A self-described lifelong enthusiast of information technology, networking, cybersecurity and emergency communications with a military service background, Allen saw the Red Cross as an opportunity to put his diverse skill set to work helping people during some of their most challenging moments.

As a Disaster Action Team volunteer, Allen has spent more than 5 years responding to local home fires, offering comfort, resources and support to families facing unexpected loss. Since joining the Red Cross, he has expanded his service into numerous volunteer roles, including logistics, government operations, public affairs, home fire campaign activities, disaster planning and preparedness initiatives.

His commitment to the mission extends well beyond his hometown.

In 2022, Allen deployed to support Red Cross operations following the New Iberia tornadoes. Shortly afterward, he spent a year deployed with FEMA supporting recovery efforts following the Hawaii wildfires.

"I remember seeing the Red Cross out in Hawaii," he said. "The Red Crossers were our partners for that response. I got to see how it works in the field for a major disaster."

Today, Allen contributes to the Louisiana Region at nearly every level. He serves on the strategic Hurricane Planning Team, helping prepare year-round for coordinated responses to major storms and disasters. When severe weather threatens, he's often among the volunteers helping move trailers loaded with critical supplies and preparing shelters for communities in harm's way.

During historic Winter Storm Fern, Allen helped ready resources and shelter operations ahead of the storm. More recently, following significant flooding in Avoyelles Parish caused by Tropical Storm Arthur, he rolled up his sleeves to support damage assessment efforts in hard-hit rural communities, helping ensure families could connect with needed assistance.

Never one to stop learning, Allen recently earned his FAA Part 107 Remote Pilot Certificate, allowing him to bring yet another unique capability to disaster response.

His goal is to use drone technology to support damage assessment, situational awareness and operational planning while helping keep responders safe in hazardous environments.

"Technology is not a replacement for our volunteers," Allen said. "It is another tool that can help us work safer, smarter and more effectively while serving those impacted by disasters."

Whether he's responding to a home fire, helping plan for hurricane season, towing trailers full of relief supplies, capturing photos that tell the Red Cross story or exploring new ways technology can support disaster operations, Allen approaches every role with the same guiding principle: helping others whenever and wherever possible.

That philosophy carries into his life outside the Red Cross as well. A Lake Charles resident, Allen has been married to his wife for nearly 30 years and is the proud father of four children. He enjoys cooking for family and friends, exploring Louisiana's scenic roads on his motorcycle and pursuing new opportunities to learn and grow.

For Allen, volunteering with the Red Cross is more than a way to serve. It's an opportunity to give others the same care and support he once received when his own community needed it most.