01/02/2026
As we enter 2026, we want to pause and reflect—not just on numbers, but on the people, the families, and the moments that shaped the past year.
In 2025, LARA Miami Valley took on approximately 14 cases where we were ready to deploy at a moment’s notice. In many of those cases, we ended up with boots on the ground. In a few, the missing were located before we ever had to deploy—and we’re grateful for every outcome where someone is found sooner.
That’s more than double the number of cases we took on in 2024, including those before LARA’s inception. One case in 2025 alone stretched over four months and hundreds of miles of grueling terrain, a reminder that this work doesn’t end when it gets difficult, exhausting, or emotionally heavy.
We saw three times as many cases through to completion in 2025 compared to 2024. Some of those closed cases ended in happy endings—something we never take for granted, and something that stays with us long after the search ends. And while not every case ended the way we hoped, each resolution still mattered. For many families, receiving answers—no matter how difficult—meant closure, and that, too, is an important part of this work.
In 2025, we had the privilege of working alongside six different search and rescue organizations from across the region, as well as multiple law enforcement agencies. These partnerships matter. They make us stronger, more capable, and better prepared to serve families in their worst moments. They also gave us the opportunity to build long-lasting friendships. Some notable groups we worked with include Cincinnati Search and Recovery -CSAR, The SAR Sheps, and Code 3 Search and Rescue . All three of these organizations are amazing. Please give them a like and a follow if you haven't already!
We were also honored to be given the opportunity to assist Chaos Divers in locating a missing individual from Delaware, Ohio, and in the recovery of his vehicle—witnessing firsthand the professionalism and technology, like sonar, that can bring answers where there were none. Please give them a like and a follow as well..."amazing" doesn't even come close to describing how great Jacob and Lindsay are.
What started as three people with a shared mission has grown into a core team of about a dozen dedicated members now. We’ve had K9 handlers, professional drone operators, and others step forward to offer their skills when they’re needed most. Our public community has grown beyond 1,000 members, and every single one of you plays a role in keeping this mission alive.
LARA Miami Valley is a grassroots effort to help change the world of search and rescue, and we are entirely self-funded. Every mile driven, every piece of equipment, and every training opportunity comes from the generosity of people who believe that everyone deserves to be searched for. If you’ve donated, shared our posts, or simply spoken our name—you’ve made this work possible.
➡️ If you’re able to support us, several donation options are listed on our website at https://laramiamivalley.org/, or you’re always welcome to reach out to us with other ideas for assistance.
Looking ahead to 2026, our goals are simple but important:
• Continue growing responsibly
• Increase fundraising so we can answer more calls
• Expand hands-on training
• Ensure all of our core team members are certified in critical skill areas
• Finalize our uniforms so when we arrive, we are immediately recognizable and ready to help
This work is hard. It’s emotional. It’s often thankless. But it matters and so do the people behind every search.
Thank you for standing with us in 2025. We carry every case with us and we’re committed to continuing this mission, together, in 2026.
Much love to all!
