A Portage Life in the Spotlight: Amelia Lara

AmeilaLaraA strong community is built on its members that are involved and ready to serve others, and Amelia Lara is a leader in her community. She represents what it means to be kind and compassionate through her selfless acts of generosity, time and dedication.

Lara was born in Gary, IN. After attending Hobart Senior High School, she went on to further her education at University of California, Los Angeles. While at UCLA, she earned a Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice.

After college, Lara dedicated the next two decades of her life to the Marine Corps.

“My dad was in the military and I knew he had gone through a lot of hard times. He was in the Army for many years and was a POW during the Korean War. He truly was my best friend. Freedom isn’t free. Someone paid the price, whether we want to believe it or not. I just wanted to help out in any way I could,” Lara said.

In 2000, she retired from the Marines. Before jumping into another career immediately, she began volunteering at the Portage Township Food Pantry. She began volunteering for one day a week, and throughout the years, it gradually evolved into many times a week.

Lara has been the Director of Volunteers at the food pantry for three years. There, on a daily basis, she witnesses the community pulling together to help those that are in need. In total, it takes about 35 to 40 volunteers to prepare and serve the recipients.

“I love the fact that Portage is such a giving city. The churches, the businesses and the community itself are filled with very giving people,” Lara said. “At the food pantry, the volunteers do their best to help meet everyone’s needs, and they also are very kind and compassionate.”

Although she directs the volunteers, her main focus is making sure that everyone is treated with the utmost respect.

Lara goes above and beyond of what is expected of her to make sure that the citizens of Portage are kept healthy and happy.

In conjunction with her vigorous amount of volunteering, Lara has been a real estate agent for Home Connections Realty since August of 2014.

“I like my job because it gives me a little flexibility, which allows me time with my family. We can work at the food pantry together, go roller-skating, go to the movies or do anything my son wants to do,” Lara said.

Lara’s family plays a key role in her everyday life. Not only do they share mutual hobbies of bicycling and running outdoors, but they also volunteer and worship together.

“My son is seven, but he volunteers. We’ve taught him about the importance of volunteering pretty early and it’s something he really enjoys doing,” Lara said. 18 months ago, Lara married her current husband, Angelo. She was also blessed with a step-son, Dagan. In addition to Dagan and Angelo, she also has six other children, 20 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“My family is Buddhist, so we are strong believers that everything comes full-circle and that we are one with nature. We believe that when we leave here, we come back another way. We don’t get to choose when karma happens. You can’t take life for granted, and you have to be kind and compassionate regardless of the situation,” Lara stated.

She continues to lead the food pantry with her Buddhist values in mind. Her calm and helpful demeanor, along with her will to meet the needs of others, will continue to be a recipe for success in the future.