When others need her, volunteer is ready to help

United Way Volunteer Spotlight

MAT-SU — Lorraine Miller's parents were instrumental in getting the Red Cross in the Valley. Now, Miller is continuing their work by volunteering for the Red Cross.

Miller performs a multitude of tasks for the Red Cross, from teaching health and safety classes at night and on the weekends to serving as a disaster team leader when needed, usually following fires that leave families homeless and without anything.

Red Cross officials say Miller makes a huge difference in their organization — and she does it all without being asked. By volunteering, she has affected the lives of many, from those she has helped to Red Cross workers.

"She always serves in every area she possibly can," said Jennifer Crawford of the Red Cross Southcentral chapter. "She does a number of things out of kindness and concern for the Red Cross organization."

In the early 1980s, Miller's parents moved from Alaska to Washington.

They returned to Alaska one winter, and they found out there was no Red Cross contact in the Valley, so they started it up, out of the house where they were staying. From those humble beginnings, the Red Cross Southcentral chapter was born.

Years later, Miller moved to Alaska as well, following in her parent's footsteps. In the early 1990s, her mother woke her up in the middle of the night, and told her there was a fire that left a family without a place to stay. Her mother asked Lorraine if she wanted to go and help the people, and she said yes. It was her first taste of disaster relief work, but it certainly wasn't the last. She has been volunteering ever since.

"In the middle of the night, you want to make sure people are safe, have clothing and food and shelter. That's what is important," Miller said. "When people look to you to provide those things after a fire, that's what gets you motivated."

Helping other people is something Miller does because she almost feels obligated.

"When I first came to Alaska with my kids, we didn't have anything and we were in a pretty tough situation," Miller said. "So many people helped me get on my feet and established, and I couldn't repay them. I figure I can repay them now by helping other people when they need help."

She does that by working disasters such as fires, like she did when she first got started in the organization. She has also started teaching first aid and CPR classes through the Red Cross as well.

Finding a reason to volunteer is easy for Miller, she said.

"When people need you, there really isn't a choice to not go," Miller said. "I go because people need it."

Communities in the Mat-Su Valley benefit every day from the work of volunteers.

Mostly, the work performed and the volunteers themselves remain out of the spotlight. They are faceless people who give their time and their talent each day, without expecting or receiving much recognition.

We want to change that. Is there a volunteer your nonprofit agency simply could not live without? Does one person make a big difference in your life every day, all without asking for anything in return? If so, please let us know.

We want to shed light on the efforts many of these unassuming people give every day to charities, nonprofit agencies, local organizations or even their neighbors.

In future issues of the Frontiersman, we will highlight some of these people and the work they perform that makes the Mat-Su Valley a great place to live.

To nominate a person to be highlighted, please e-mail the person's name, a contact number for them and for yourself, and a brief description of what makes the work they do important. E-mail submissions to editor@alaska.net, or mail them to the Frontiersman, 5751 E. Mayflower Ct., Wasilla, AK, 99654.