Lorraine Siebert is dedicating her golden years to helping other area seniors lead their own independent lives. She has been an American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter volunteer for five years and works within the Chapter’s health and safety department with Lifeline – a Personal Emergency Response System (PERS). Subscribers wear Lifeline monitors as a wristband or a pendant. If the client needs help, they simply push the button on the monitor. A Lifeline operator is immediately notified and starts calling numbers on a predetermined list. If no one is available, the operator dispatches emergency personnel.

Lorraine, herself a Lifeline subscriber, teaches the public how Lifeline works and started the Chapter’s In-Touch program where subscribers get a weekly phone call from a volunteer to ensure they are safe and satisfied with the Lifeline service.

“I love my job,” said Lorraine. “I love to help people who need me, whether they are sick in the hospital or a Lifeline subscriber. I love to be there to help.”

After a career as a homemaker, Lorraine began her volunteer work 13 years ago, shortly after her husband passed away. She started as a volunteer at St. Anthony’s Hospital where she assisted not only the hospital staff but also the patients and their families.

“I was at church and a man came up to me and said ‘Mrs. Siebert, do you remember me? You took such great care of me when I was sick,’” remembers Lorraine. “It is great to know you had an impact on another person’s life.”

After eight years at St. Anthony’s, Lorraine came to the Red Cross and immediately started work with Lifeline. However, she had to learn some new things.

“I had never even touched a typewriter before, so I had never gone anywhere near a computer. It scared me!” Lorraine said. “But to do my job, I had to learn about them so I took some classes at the library. Now, I can even scan pictures!”

There is very little that keeps Lorraine away from her volunteer work for too long; even heart surgery. She came back to work three weeks after her open heart procedure. “I even drove myself – that is an hour and ten minute drive.”

Lorraine is incredibly proud of her volunteer work. “There is always so much to learn and so much to do. I love every minute of my work,” she keeps repeating. However, nothing compares to the pride she has in her family. Looking at her desk, it is covered with pictures of her large family. Married at 15, Lorraine and her late husband had five daughters, 14 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren.

After a busy day of work and taking care of her home, she likes to spend time visiting with her grandchildren. “I drive all around to see them,” said Lorraine. “One day, I logged about 150 miles in my car from work and visiting my grandkids.” In fact, shortly after she left work on August 2^nd, she went to see off one of her grandsons. “He will be serving six months in Iraq. But he needs to make sure he gets back fast because he is getting married in March!”

Lorraine is a vital asset to the Red Cross and a joy to spend time with.

Click here for more information on the Lifeline program.

To read more stories of Red Cross volunteers and donors, click here.