Saving Saipan: Lauren Benson captures hope 

Editor’s note: Saipan Tribune’s latest series will feature everyday heroes who are taking part in recovery efforts and assisting those in need after Typhoon Soudelor devastated Saipan. 

Lauren Benson has contributed to Typhoon Soudelor relief efforts both behind and in front of her camera lens. 

The 23-year-old lifestyle and wedding photographer created Humans of Saipan on Facebook, posting photos of individuals who endured the wrath of the typhoon in an effort to share the myriad of stories of survival and hope. 

“I thought if I could visit the shelters and hear people’s stories, I could post them online with a photo so that people outside of Saipan could get a personal connection with those in need…”

Benson hopes that connection will engender people viewing the photos to donate to a GoFundMe page started by a friend: http://www.gofundme.com/8zf7zp6p8.  

Benson and her husband, Matthew, have visited different shelters, giving what they can and talking to people who lost their homes since the typhoon made landfall. 

“Not only did this help those in the shelters and spread awareness, but it helped my husband and I connect with those who were effected by Soudelor in similar ways as ourselves.”

With a camera in one hand and a bottle of water in the other, Benson volunteers for the grassroots volunteer organization United 4 Saipan as well.

“Saipan is a huge community, and better than that, we’re all family. Families look after each other and help one another when they are in need,” she said. “I’ve met people who have literally lost everything giving what they had to someone else. Saipan is an inspiration to the rest of the world, and that’s why it’s important for residents to help one another as much as they can.”

Benson fell victim to Typhoon Soudelor as well, returning home from a trip to discover the roof of her home torn apart and everything inside destroyed. 

“Sadness and anger filled me, not completely understanding how this tragedy could happen to such an amazing place,” she explained.

It wasn’t until she arrived home, she said, that she became thankful. 

“Everywhere I turned, people were helping one another. Friends and family called right us away, asking if we needed help,” she added. “Those who helped inspired me to help others people who had it worse off than we did.”