About LARA Miami Valley

Our Mission

At LARA Miami Valley, our mission is simple: to bring hope and closure to families by locating and recovering missing persons primarily in Ohio's Miami Valley. As a dedicated volunteer group, we provide specialized search and recovery services with compassion, commitment, and professionalism.

Founded by local community members, our team works closely with law enforcement, families, and other organizations to assist in non-rescue recovery efforts. Although we aren't first responders, our volunteers are trained to support and enhance ongoing searches using tools and methods best suited for each unique situation.

Driven by the belief that every missing person deserves to be found, LARA Miami Valley (Locate and Recovery Assistance) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization which operates entirely on donations and volunteer support. We won't charge a dime for anyone who requests our services and will work tirelessly to bring answers to those who need them most.

Board of Directors

Sarah Jackson President

Chris Wolford Secretary

Josh Blackshire Treasurer

Advisory Members

Our Bylaws

You can download the latest revision of the Locate and Recovery Assistance Bylaws by clicking HERE.

Services

Our Mission

LARA Miami Valley is a volunteer-based organization dedicated to the search and recovery of missing individuals, many of whom are presumed deceased. While we do not currently offer rescue services, we focus on providing vital support to families, communities, and government organizations in locating missing loved ones. As our team grows with more certified professionals, we may expand our services. For now, we remain committed to only offering services we are fully equipped to handle.

What We Do

LARA Miami Valley provides the following services, always free of charge:

• Search & Recovery: We assist in locating presumed deceased individuals, missing children, victims of suicide, accidental deaths, and those who have lost contact with loved ones.
• Collaborative Efforts: We work alongside local authorities and other organizations, offering mapping, advising, and volunteer coordination.
• Community Search Initiatives: When a search area is identified, we organize and lead search teams on the ground until the missing individual is located.
• Cold Case Investigations: During downtime, our team actively works on cold cases, helping to bring attention to unresolved disappearances.
• Media and Social Support: For those missing outside our primary area, we use social media and media outlets to keep their cases visible and share updates.

Our Commitment

LARA Miami Valley exists to serve, not for recognition or personal gain. We rely entirely on donations and grants, ensuring that no one is ever charged for our services. Our goal is to bring loved ones home and provide peace to the families who need it most.

Support

Donate

Your generous donations help us continue our vital work of locating and recovering missing persons in the Miami Valley. Every contribution directly supports our efforts and allows us to purchase vital equipment to improve the success rates of our search operations. As a 501(c)(3) organization, your donations are 100% tax-deductible. We will provide you with an acknowledgement letter for your tax records upon receipt regardless of the donation method used.

You can make a monetary donation to our cause using the following methods:

If you make a donation and do not receive acknowledgement within a few days of receipt, please reach out to us at your earliest convenience so we can promptly address it.

Amazon Wish List

You can support LARA Miami Valley by purchasing items directly from our Amazon Wish List. These essential supplies can be delivered directly to us and will help equip our volunteer teams and keep our operations running smoothly. Every purchase makes an impact and brings us one step closer to our goals.

Click Here to View our Wish List

Store

Show your support by purchasing LARA Miami Valley merchandise from our store! From t-shirts to other unique items, your purchase not only helps fund our efforts but also spreads awareness about our mission. Stay tuned for upcoming products!

Volunteer Info

LARA Miami Valley is a 100% volunteer-supported organization. Without our volunteers, we would not be able to do the things we do. If you would like to assist us, please read through the following list and follow any applicable directions.

• Follow our Facebook Page: LARA Miami Valley
• Join our Facebook Group: LARA Miami Valley
• Read and acknowledge our Liability Waiver & Code of Conduct: Liability Waiver & Code of Conduct
  ***We will have hard copies on hand for you to fill out prior to any in-person activities.
• Download our Volunteer Checklist and start building up your pack: Volunteer Checklist

Contact Us

If you have a general comment or inquiry, you may contact us using the following form. You are also welcome to email us at info@laramiamivalley.org or call/text us at (937) 551-0130. If you have a missing person to report, please do not use this form. Instead, visit the following form to submit their information: https://report.laramiamivalley.org