World Foundation for Children

Disasters

Volunteer Clearinghouse

Volunteer Clearinghouse

Volunteers are needed on every disaster. Some disasters are larger than others, get more media attention and require more volunteers than others. However, it is very important that - no matter how bad a disaster appears, volunteers should never rush in to help. Such spontaneous responses by volunteers place unnecessary burdens on a devastated community to care for victims as well as volunteers. As an example, volunteers may take up motel spaces needed for the disaster victims. So, never go into a disaster area unless you have been invited to help a disaster response agency.

Our Foundation--the World Foundation for Children--has a limited need for volunteers on disasters in VA, MD, DC and Haiti or elsewhere. To volunteer for one of these current disasters, send an e-mail to This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it and briefly tell us about your skills, interest and desires. We are especially interested in those with experience or skills in carpentry, construction, video and/or still photography, press relations, medicine, office, and old fashioned laboring. Please specify if you live near or in the disaster area. Please register with us today and let us know the timetable of your availability.

If you wish to volunteer to work on a disaster in Virginia, following is a list of orgnizations seeking volunteers. Please tell them you were referred by the World Foundation for Children. (Most recent agency requests are listed first.)

***The VA Dept. of Health and local health departments are untilizing Virginia Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Volunteers. MRC units are teams of local volunteer medical, public health professionals, and nonmedical community members who volunteer to contribute their skills, expertise, and time to support ongoing public health initiatives and public health emergencies in localities across Virginia. Become a MRC volunteer by visiting www.vamrc.org. This program is supported by the Virginia Department of Health.

***Nikki Nicholau, Director, Office on Volunteerism & Community Services, State Liaison, Virginia Faith-Based & Community Initiative; 7 North Eighth St. 5th Floor, Richmond, VA 23219-1849. Office: 804-726-7644; toll-free 800-638-3839. This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it .

***Volunteer Centers of Virginia, 2210 Executive Dr., Suite B, Hampton, VA 23666; www.volunteerpeninsula.org.

Assistance for Children

Disaster Assistance
The World Foundation for Children has a Disaster Preparedness Fund to help prepare for the next disaster to hit Virginia or any other state. Virginia is typical of most states in experiencing a disaster requiring a Presidential Major Disaster or Emergency Declaration every couple of years, and we need to prepare for the next one. It may be a hurricane, flood, tornado, storm or man-made event. Your family should be prepared for a disaster, and likewise, the WFC should be prepared to serve on the next disaster. This fund helps us "roll out the front door when a bid one occurs and before we've had a chance to do any fundraising on the disaster".
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Introduction

Introduction

The World Foundation for Children is very fortunate to have several officers, directors, staff members and volunteers with extensive experience in natural and man-made disasters. Individually, they have worked on more than 400 disasters for federal, state and volunteer agencies.

Our work has included "Major Disasters" declared by the President to aid recovery of state and local jurisdiction affected by such events as hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, storms, terrorist and other man-made events, as well as "Emergency" declarations by the President to provide assistance to avert or prevent a Major Disaster from occurring.

The World Foundation for Children is involved in disaster assistance in two major ways: (1) providing direct disaster assistance to children; (2) serving as a conduit or volunteer clearinghouse that helps place volunteers with disaster assistance agencies needing volunteers.

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