After years of volunteering, Darlene joins the team

Darlene Santiago is RMA VC’s Community
Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator.

In March 2025, Darlene joined the RMA Ventura County team as the Community Engagement and Volunteer Coordinator. After 20 years as an executive in women’s footwear, Darlene was longing for something more “meaningful” and “impactful.” Initially only volunteering at the Lighthouse, Darlene ultimately learned that ministry “is where my heart beats the loudest,” she said.

How did you hear about the Lighthouse?

At a Bible study group, a woman invited me to volunteer with her at the Lighthouse. What was once a simple Saturday morning commitment turned into something life changing. It was two years of mentoring regularly, just showing up and being present for the women, which shifted into a few years of counseling the women. That experience pulled something deeper out of me; I found myself drawn into more intentional conversations. I found this is where my heart beats the loudest.

The community engagement position is relatively new; do you have a specific goal for yourself?

Being here, I get to be in proximity with the men and women in our programs and being close to their stories allows me firsthand to see how pain is processed and what healing can truly look like when people are given the right support. This is so necessary and important.

For me, this community engagement position is about bringing this involvement to the next generation. As I’ve started interacting with our community, I saw that my generation and up interact, but the younger generations do not. We need to involve and pass this torch to the next generation, so they see that they can be part of a purpose that helps restore lives, heal families, and rebuild communities.

What’s something you’ve learned while working at RMA?

I only knew about the Lighthouse; I never knew about the men’s program until I was invited to help with the Thanksgiving meals. I was blown away with the whole experience. I’ve been able to counsel men and women through addiction. I see what that burden is like on families and communities. My eyes were starting to open, and I began questioning my involvement, asking myself, ‘What can I bring to be able to heal our community?’ That Thanksgiving was a pivotal moment for me.

What’s the best part of your job?

One of the most beautiful things to experience is the church and business partnerships. Seeing their faces when they tour the Mission, when they see what we do here, is my favorite thing. That interaction helps bring in their hands and gets them to serve and volunteer. Working with them as they volunteer, as they continue to get involved, bringing them into a community where they can walk away after serving or donating, knowing they are part of what we are doing, that’s beautiful.

And the most challenging?

When I’m trying to reach out to a specific church to get them rallied up, to have them believe in something they can’t always see, and not getting anything back, is hard. But I just keep trying and keep finding ways to connect, and letting these partnerships know that maybe they can’t see the big picture or the vision with us, but if they’re ever in need, we’re a resource.

What keeps you going?

These are people’s lives. When I approach people (to partner), I’m able to share what’s happening because of my interactions with the residents at the Mission. I can see their fight, I know their stories, and it keeps me motivated and really inspired. That’s what I share immediately when I meet with people. And because I truly felt it and cared, when I share it, others feel it and care too.

What would you like more people to know about the Mission?

One thing I want people to know is that it’s more than just a shelter or a meal. What happens here is a true, sacred moment. We’ve learned here that putting a meal on the table has only become an entrance into the program because of how we are treating those that we are serving.

When I train volunteers, I tell them to treat this like a five-star restaurant. If guests feel safe here, then they’ll start questioning what we do here, and that becomes the pathway to them getting the help that they need. They won’t feel shame, they’ll just feel safe. That’s what we as a Mission want to be known for—being a sanctuary, being a safe place.

And I want both (men and women’s) programs to be seen as one. I try to find opportunities to close that gap in the community so that people can see the full expression of who we are and what we do, that we are one organization for one purpose—to change lives.

Darlene will celebrate 24 years of marriage to her husband, Anthony, in November. They have three grown children and one grandchild. Outside the Mission, Darlene loves to serve at their church, City Church in Ventura, and have date nights with her husband. She’s currently pursuing a counseling degree at Life Pacific University.