Volunteer finds new home with the Red Cross after retirement

Volunteering with the American Red Cross can mark the opening of a new chapter for people looking for continued growth and purpose in life. Ninety percent of the Red Cross workforce is volunteers. Your time and talent can make a real difference in people's lives.

Deb Lozano's career in industrial engineering began with the U.S. Department of Defense, and new opportunities in project management eventually brought her all over the world. Her last stop before retirement was in the pharmaceutical industry. 

“I found it stressful to be a woman in that role. There was a lot of pressure, having to prove myself over and over,” Lozano said, “but I saw a lot of places and had a lot of experiences I wouldn’t trade for anything.”

When Lozano retired at age 57, she searched for opportunities to feel needed and be, in her words, a "productive part of society." She signed up to volunteer with several organizations in northeastern Pennsylvania, but did not find her niche right away. After two years, she decided to give the Red Cross a try. 

“My grandmother volunteered for the Red Cross in the 1960s. She always had a crisp uniform with a bunch of pins to represent the blood she donated, as well as pins for her service. I remember admiring her for volunteering,” Lozano said.

Lozano began her volunteer service with the Red Cross as a community outreach manager, helping to coordinate and train staff for community activities. Today, she leads a team of five people who support Red Cross Volunteer Services in the Southeastern Pennsylvania Region.

 

Lozano also supports Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces activities across Pennsylvania. She serves as a Veterans Affairs Voluntary Services Representative at the Wilkes-Barre Veterans Affairs Medical Center, providing support to veterans at the facility.

“I have found a volunteer home with the American Red Cross. I enjoy the work that I do and value all that the Red Cross does for others. I appreciate the staff and volunteers I work with, and have found them all to be top notch,” Lozano said.  “Every day is a new day working for the Red Cross. You start your day with a plan and are surprised along the way. It keeps things interesting.”

Lozano says the most important part about her job is not necessarily the work itself.

"What I get out of it more-so is the camaraderie with the volunteers and staff members," Lozano said. "It’s feeling appreciated and doing something that is worthwhile to others.”

To learn more about specific volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross in your area, please visit redcross.org/volunteer.