Woman smiling

Lauren Baranco

Social Services Agency

Lauren grew up doing volunteer work with her family, mostly giving her time to church-organized efforts through their nonprofit wing, to help the under-resourced. Mostly, the work has involved serving meals to the hungry – an activity she still does each year during the holidays. “This has been a part of my life for 20-plus years and it’s irreplaceable. Too many people segregate themselves from diverse spaces and it is critical to participate in opportunities to connect with people who live within environments and with experiences outside of our individual scope. It’s also a valuable time to spend with family, working together to share with others.”